This blog post submitted by: Corrine Voils, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Duke General Internal Medicine.
Did you know?
If you are preparing a grant, there are resources at Duke to help increase chances of success!
The Research Development Council (RDC) in the Department of Medicine conducts “Concept Reviews” in which investigators present their proposed grant idea to 5-8 investigators with relevant expertise. The purpose is to identify weaknesses in proposals that can be fixed via changes in strategies, presentation, new collaborations, or improved use of available resources. This program can be used to vet grants of any size (e.g., R03, R01). This program is most useful in the early stages of planning a grant, before you have spent much time writing. This program is open to investigators of all career stages. For more information, or to schedule your own concept review, contact Dr. Heather Whitson for clinical research applications or Dr. Dee Gunn for basic science applications.
If you are a fellow or early-career faculty, the School of Medicine offers two grant writing programs, led by Dr. Mark Dewhirst.
K Club (for career development applications, including NIH/AHRQ K mechanism and VA CDA mechanism; 3 cycles per year corresponding to NIH review cycles): This program consists of structured reviews and feedback on career development applications by senior experienced faculty who have served as reviewers for the NIH (and, sometimes, VA). The program involves workshops on specific aims, significance/innovation, effective writing, and the career development plan as well as internal review of draft applications and feedback sessions. This program also provides an opportunity for participants to network with other investigators at the same developmental stage. It is recommended that you begin this program five months before the grant due date.
Path to Independence Program (for first R-level grant, such as R03, R21, R01; 3 cycles per year corresponding to NIH review cycles): This program consists of structured reviews and feedback on grant applications by senior experienced faculty who have served as reviewers for the NIH (and, sometimes, VA). The program involves workshops on specific aims, significance/innovation, and effective writing, as well as internal review of draft applications, mock review sessions, and feedback sessions. This program also provides an opportunity for participants to network with other investigators at the same developmental stage. It is recommended that you begin this program five months before the grant due date.
Academy of Mentors (for first R-level grant or career development application; 3 cycles per year corresponding to NIH review cycles): This program involves a mock study review by a standing study section, followed by an opportunity for applicants to receive individualized feedback from the reviewers. For more information, contact Dr. Dewhirst.
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Follow Dr. Voils on Twitter @VoilsCorrine