Chapter 15 - Guide to Grant Applications

Abstract

This chapter will cover the writing of grant applications. Obtaining grant funding has become an obligation for all researchers, be they junior or senior. Since available sources of funding are limited, the competition for support can be fierce. Consequently, the process of grant writing is often stressful. To help reduce the stress, this chapter provides advice on how to get started and how to structure the grant writing process. A list of funding initiatives and opportunities available to junior researchers in different countries is included, particularly for postdoctoral fellows and junior scientists. The various elements that make grant applications successful and the most common mistakes cited by reviewers of grant applications will be discussed. The review process and the criteria used to rank grant applications will also be described in detail, using an investigator-initiated R01 grant, funded by the US National Institutes of Health, as an example. Next comes a discussion of multiproject grant applications and funding opportunities at the National Institutes of Health that are aimed at stimulating innovation, enhancing research to benefit specific disease categories, or supporting research infrastructure. The current main funding program of the European Union (Horizon 2020) will also be covered, including the different types of grant applications, the review process, and the criteria used to rank grant applications. Finally, funding initiatives and opportunities aimed at stimulating international collaboration in research and addressing health problems of global scope will be discussed, followed by a brief summary.