David Finn PhD Lecturer in Pharmacology SFI Principal Investigator CoDirector of the Centre for Pain Research DavidFinnNuigalwayie Tel 353 091 495280 httpwwwnuigalwayiepharmacologyDrDavidFinnhtml ID: 461050
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Preliminary data and collaborations: Working towards submitting a grant
David
Finn, PhDLecturer in Pharmacology, SFI Principal InvestigatorCo-Director of the Centre for Pain ResearchDavid.Finn@Nuigalway.ieTel: +353 (0)91 495280http://www.nuigalway.ie/pharmacology/Dr_David_Finn.html Slide2
Talk overview
Grant applications: Ingredients for success?Preliminary (pilot) data:Why?Where?How much?When?How to maximise impact?Collaborations:Why?Who? How to choose?How to initiate contact?Roles and expectationsFeatures of successful collaborationCollaboration with Industry
SummarySlide3
Grant applications: Ingredients for success I
A great ideaNovel approach to a big/important question or problemHigh probability of successHigh risk vs high gain?ExcellenceOriginalityLogicalWell-designed experimentsState-of-the-art approach employed?Likely to yield strong, important conclusions?
Potential for high impact?Slide4
Grant applications: Ingredients for success II
ImpactPotential for publication in the best journals?Make a positive difference to:HealthSocietyEconomyHuman resource dimension – PhD/Postdoc training etcCommercial impactCollaboration with Industry, facilitate progression to market, IP, spin-out companiesStrong track record of applicant (or applicant team)Publication record in the area (quantity and quality)Citations
Invited conference presentationsPositions held and other measures of esteemSupervisory recordRecord in attracting grant fundingInstitutional support and thematic alignmentSlide5
Preliminary data and collaborators
Two ways in which you can mitigate risk and deal with potential shortcomings in your own expertise
RiskGain
Prelim data
CollaboratorsSlide6
Preliminary data – Why?
Demonstrate to reviewers that there is substance to your ideaMay play a key role in shaping your hypothesisProof of principleData that suggest a high probability of success for the main projectFeasibilityDemonstrate your technical capabilityFeasibilitySlide7
Preliminary data – Where?
Usually in one or more of the following sections:BackgroundCurrent state-of-the-artWork leading up to the ProjectPossibly also in the “Methodology/Approach” section if wish to demonstrate capability in a specific techniqueBut keep page counts in mind! Appendices?Slide8
Preliminary data – How much?
Enough to convince reviewers that your project has substance and a high chance of successMay depend on the scheme you are applying for and the size, scale and ambition of the proposed projectToo much better than too littleSlide9
Preliminary data – How to maximise impact?
Use strong data that support your hypothesisPrepare very nice figures, with accurate and informative figure legendsNumber the figures and refer to them in the textIf possible, position them close to the relevant textGenerally avoid using colour unless essentialA schematic that pulls the main themes, mechanisms, aims together Slide10
Preliminary data – When?
Allow sufficient time for generationIdentify the grant submission deadline and timetable generation of preliminary data from thereOften you might be drawing on data recently generatedAlso possible to use published data to support the case for the projectCollaborators might be another source of dataSlide11
The Grant Writing Process
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/grant-proposals-or-give-me-the-money/Preliminary data
Preliminary dataSlide12
CollaborationSlide13
Collaboration – Why?
Cutting-edge 21st Century science is often a team effortCan’t do everything yourself (and not expected to!)Many papers published in the World’s best journals have multiple authors from multiple institutions and countriesBring in essential expertise that you don’t haveTechnicalIntellectualBetter solutions/experiments/ideas/papers usually emergeSupport and advice when things aren’t going according to planCo-supervision of students (and/or assist with training)Slide14
46 authors.......Slide15
Reviewers’ commentsSlide16
Collaboration – Who?
Choose/invite the best person (or organisation) for the jobProven track record in areaCurrently activePeople who you know you could work well withPreviously worked with?Previously met?Recommended by someone you trust?Whose work you respectPeople you can trustTo get the job done on timeTo maintain confidentialityTo collaborate rather than compete
People who will bring fresh ideas and new ways of thinkingSlide17
D Finn Collaborations
University of NottinghamProf Victoria Chapman Dr Steve AlexanderProf David KendallUniversity of NiceProf Rene Garcia
Ms Ophelie NachonUniv College London - Prof Stephen HuntNUI, GalwayDr Michelle Roche (Physiology)Dr John Kelly (Pharmacology)Dr Eilís
Dowd (Pharmacology)Prof Larry Egan (Pharmacology)
Prof Peter Dockery (Anatomy)Prof Abhay Pandit (Biomed Eng)
Dr Brian McGuire (Psychology
)
University College Cork
Prof George Shorten (Anaesthesia)
University of Bristol
Dr David Jessop
University of Granada
Dr José Manuel Baeyens
University of Indiana
Prof Ken Mackey
Dublin City University
Dr Nick Gathergood
Prof Oliver Dolly
University of Madrid
Dr Maria-Paz Viveros
Trinity College Dublin
Prof Marina LynchSlide18
Collaboration – How to initiate contact?
Look carefully at grant eligibility criteriaCollaborator vs Co-applicant/Co-PIBest if you can meet at least once in person (especially if never met before)Conferences, phone, Skype/video-con, emailInvite them to be a collaboratorBasic outline of idea and their role to begin withFurther detail later if they show interestWhat are you asking of them and what can they expect in return? (see next slide)Make contact as early as possibleIf they sign up, keep them in the loop at all stages thereafterLetter of support required?
Write it for them and send it as a draft, asking them to review and change as they see fitSignatures in good timeSlide19
Collaboration – Roles and Expectations
Be crystal clear on theseIn writing in an e-mailProbably also in the letter of support and proposal itselfWhat exactly is collaborator required to do and when?Will they (can they?) receive funding?Agree budget up front where possibleContract research vs collaborationCo-authorship on publicationsOwnership of IP?Student/researcher visits?Slide20
Collaborations with Industry
Can be very rewarding TranslationCommercialisationRelevanceMilestone driven, deliverables, deadlinesOften short duration projectsCompany priorities and focus can change quicklyIP Agreements and Contracts essentialSlide21
Features of Successful Collaboration
A positive and productive partnershipJoint publicationsJoint fundingShared supervision/training of studentsJoint IPMutual trust and respectMutually beneficialRegular contact, discussions, meetingsEach party delivers on their commitments in a timely mannerOpens up new ideas and projectsSlide22
Summary
Preliminary data and collaborators are very important factors for most grant proposalsPreliminary data gives substance to your ideas and helps convince reviewersCollaborators bring additional expertise Collaboration can be a lot of fun and very rewarding!