Insights from the AHRQ Peer Review Process (Text Version)

On September 20, 2011, Denise Tate made this presentation at the 2011 Annual Conference. Select to access the PowerPoint® presentation (80 KB).

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AHRQ 2011 Annual Conference: Insights from the AHRQ Peer Review Process

Training Grant Review Perspective
Denise G. Tate Ph.D., Professor,
Chair HCRT Study Section
University of Michigan Medical School
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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Planning Your Application

• Get to know yourself well—your career pathway, interests, qualifications, experience and resources:
  • Talk to others, mentors, advisers about your interests and career options.
  • Write a brief 2 page research training statement.
  • Research your options using the AHRQ Web site.
• Talk to AHRQ experts about the right mechanism for you.
• Allow sufficient time for planning, organize and write your research training applications.

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Planning Your Application

• Take a look at the funding opportunity mechanisms (AHRQ priorities, Special Emphasis notices)and align these with your application.
• Examine the AHRQ's scientific mission and goals and carefully consider whether your application fits within the AHRQ's mission.
• Contact a program official by phone or E-mail to clarify any questions.
• Develop a strategy:
  • Determine what type of application will work best to fit your needs.
  • Review what you plan to achieve and by when?
  • Plan based on potential resources (i.e. mentors, environment, budget).

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Writing your Application

• Determine all requirements to write your application (i.e., forms, bios, Institutional Review Board [IRB]).
• Consider your team of mentors and get commitment up front in terms of support, time and effort, access to laboratories, databases. Assemble your team early.
• Letters of support—these need to clearly indicate mentors support and commitment as well familiarity with your goals and achievements.
• Describe opportunities for collaboration and becoming an independent investigator.

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Writing Your Application

• Review the grant application instructions carefully.
• Discuss your career development pathway and goals with mentors and colleagues.
• Propose carefully related coursework to achieve goals.
• Solicit feedback about your research idea.
• In some cases, preliminary data is desirable.
• Provide a succinct but focused review of literature.
• The timeline should be realistic for both training and competing the research project.

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Writing Your Application

• Is the proposed training relevant to the field? Will it promote a successful research career?
• Does the project addresses an important problem? Is it innovative? How will the clinical practice be improved?
• Is the proposed methodology sound?
• Is your CV strong enough?

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Special Emphasis

• Align your career development plan to your professional goals:
  • Justify the need for training (it will be a vital step toward your ultimate career goal and move you toward scientific independence).
  • Specify training and courses and how these will help you to reach your objectives.
  • Stress your commitment to a career in health services research.

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Special Emphasis

• Design Your Research Plan Carefully:
  • Reviewers will look closely at your plan.
  • 2 part plan: aims and strategy.
  • Is it related to your experience and will it enable you to achieve your objectives?
• Provide a realistic time frame.
• Document training on responsible conduct of research.

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Special Emphasis: Independence for K02s, K99, K24

• It is important to provide reviewers evidence that you are independent and are prepared to be able to lead your project.
• Consider whether your career stage, expertise, and proposed training are appropriate to the size and scope of your project.
• You want to reveal your independence through your publications.

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Areas of Special Focus

• Institutional Support—letters of reference and commitment.
• Collaborators/Consultants—letters of commitment.
• Protection of Human Subjects.
• Recruitment and Inclusion of Women, Minorities, Children and Persons with Disabilities.
• Have a plan for inclusion of AHRQ priority populations.
• Data and Safety Monitoring Plan.
• Access to required resources: databases, patients, laboratories, equipment, etc.
• Budget and budget justification related to years of training proposed.

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AHRQ Training Program Officers

• For K awards: Dr. Kay Anderson (kay.anderson@ahrq.hhs.gov).
• For R36s or Dissertation awards: Ms. Brenda Harding (brenda.harding@ahrq.hhs.gov).

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Summary of Major Pitfalls

• A training application is not an R01—applicant needs to achieve a balance between the career plan, didactics and project proposed.
• Research project should relate to training, be methodologically sound (clear aims) and reasonable within budget, resources and time frame.
• Make sure your mentors have the required expertise, have read your application and fully on board with you. Clear commitment is key.

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On Being Successful

• Allow sufficient time for planning and writing.
• Make your application responsive to the agency and your own interests and expertise.
• Get feedback on content and format.
• Review Peer review Guidelines and Scoring.
• Plan on possible re-submission!