WRITING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Robert L. Reid, M.D. Queens University
Copyright 30/09/05 by Robert L. Reid
Preliminary Questions
What is the specific question? Is the idea novel? Do your resources (i.e. facilities, equipment personnel, patient population, time, motivation) make this a realistic project for your centre at this time? Is the answer of sufficient importance? What funding agency is most appropriate?
Initial Steps
Do a thorough literature search Visit Research Roadmap at dept Ob/Gyn homepage http://meds.queensu.ca/medicine/obgyn/re search/course2004.htm Enlist support of Supervisor / Mentor and Collaborators Meet to devise a research protocol
Remember
Win -Win
When you approach prospective collaborators remember that their enthusiasm will be proportional to their anticipated gain (mentorship, authorship, equipment, resources)
The Mentor
Role
Role Model Support and Encouragement - moral - financial - resources
Your Mentors Rewards
Your successes Your efforts lead to presentation or publication (co- authorship)
Collaborators
Roles
Share work Provide essential - Knowledge - Skills - Resources
Collaborators Rewards
Funding or equipment Co-authorship
Who are the reviewers for your grant application?
1) Relaxed knowledgeable government employees 2) Professional grant reviewers hired by CIHR or other granting agencies 3) Busy clinicians who have just finished a long day at the office
You must convince the reviewers that your research is important!
On second thought, I will approve your application for funding of the optical heat-ray research
The Title
Make it specific and captivating
An alternative means to detect osteoporosis VS. Osteoporosis : A rapid inexpensive office screening test for early detection
Hypothesis
Should be clearly stated in one or two sentences Do not make reviewers look for it
Objective
Define one or two specific objectives Do not try to answer too many questions
(most important problems are answered one question at a time)
Background
Your opportunity to convince the reviewers that you are up-to-date and conversant in your field of enquiry Concise, thorough, well referenced review Preliminary data may strengthen your proposal Should lead to the logical conclusion that your proposed question needs to be answered !!!
Preliminary data often allow you to take a little idea and get funding to turn it into a big project
Good news! Good news! Board approved The Tourist The tourist board approved our funding our funding.
References
Include full reference - Author, title, vol., pages, year Reviewers have been chosen for their critical thinking ability and will seldom accept a statement contrary to their own perception without determining your source of information
Research Design
Describe Facilities and resources Study population Methodology Sample size determination Data management Statistical analysis
Budget
Must be reasonable, itemized, justified Document expenses with copies of proposed charges, maintenance contracts, etc. Give degree of overlap with other grants (either submitted or funded)
For any aspect of the proposal that you can not accomplish by yourself you must establish the fact that you have the necessary collaborations to succeed
Establish collaborators experience and credibility with letters of support and CVs
Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Should emphasize the training and experience of investigators Should not be embellished (peer reviewed publications important) When you first create a CV have another researcher critically review your method
Ethics Review and Consent
Needed for human clinical research OR Research employing human tissues
The institution within which the researcher works has the major responsibility to ensure that the research meets the ethical standards of society
MRC Guidelines on REBs
REB Structure and Composition
Eg. Lay Member Ethicist Theologians Sociologists Epidemiologists Statisticians Medical staff members Applied health professionals
Consensus development (minority opinions) Report to Senior Administration of Hospital / University
Factors In Ethics Review
Scientific and ethical review should be married Subject recruitment must not interfere with other doctor -patient relationships Sample size is critical for statistical validity Informed choice Compensation vs. coercion
Consent Form I
Lay language Reason for the study What specifically is being tested Why was the subject selected What exactly is required of participants
Consent Form II
Potential risks / potential benefits Anonymity Right to decline or withdraw Who to contact if concerns Copy for patient
Special Ethical Concerns
Pediatric / Incompetent patient Epidemiological studies (data bank origin) Proxy consents (i.e. confused AIDS patient) Studies in pregnant women Fetal tissue use Multi centre drug trials
Summary Page :
sets the stage for a positive review
Summarize hypothesis, objectives, methodology and data analysis concisely on one page Most reviewers begin with such a capsule summary Tell them the impact / significance of your proposal as they are usually asked to evaluate this
Simple but often overlooked errors in grant preparation
Do not exceed allowable page limits Limit appendices to essential documents Use bold easy to read type Typos and grammatical errors indicate sloppy preparation or inattention to detail which may reflect upon the investigators research skills Avoid bad xerox copies
Proof read carefully to see if you any words out
Anonymous
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Bad Xeroxing Job
Reference numbers cut off during xeroxing
