Grant Preparation
Our research consultants can participate in grant development in a variety of ways, including:
- assisting with the development of a research team
- assisting investigators in defining and refining study aims and measures
- developing study designs
- writing statistical analysis plans
- computing the power or sample sizes necessary to achieve the study aims
We do not participate in proposals in which the investigator "only needs a sample size calculation" unless we have sufficient time to participate in the study design because we almost never find that the sample size is as important as making improvements in the fundamental study design.
When should I start?
Can I use the research consultants’ names on my proposal?
What is your typical percent effort?
When should I start?
The strongest grant proposals are those in which the proposal team is assembled at least four months before submission. Holding team meetings every three weeks or more and having at least two major revisions of the proposal are optimal. When research consultants have sufficient time to do their best jobs, the likelihood of funding is significantly enhanced.
With rare exception, we cannot provide assistance with proposals without two or more months’ advance notice. There are exceptions for cases involving resubmissions, renewals, or submissions of proposals that are substantially similar to previous grants in which the research consultants fully participated. On rare occasions, we can analyze small pilot datasets to inform power or sample-size calculations when the design is very simple.
Can I use the research consultants’ names on my proposal?
We do not allow an investigator to use the name of a PhD or MS research consultant on a grant or contract proposal unless the research consultant has fully participated in the development of the proposal and can vouch for the study design and analysis plan.
What is your typical percent effort?
It is our policy that percent efforts of research consultants on grant proposals accurately reflect anticipated efforts. The minimum percent effort is generally 10% for clinical studies and 5% for basic science studies for faculty research consultants. Staff needs are negotiated on a project basis and approved by the Associate Dean for Research. In certain circumstances, research consultants can participate on grant applications as a consultant or be paid a fixed-dollar amount or for a fixed number of hours on a grant proposal where the granting agency disallows funding percent efforts. On average, a grant is best served by having both a PhD and an MS research consultant on the team, with the ratio of MS:PhD percent efforts being about 2.5:1. Therefore, a clinical study involving a faculty research consultant at 10% will have an MS-level of statistical support from our office at the 25% effort level.
Some factors that necessitate higher percent efforts include:
- many variables per subject
- repeated measurements per subject
- a significant number of subjects dropping out before the planned termination of their follow up
- other types of missing data
- plans for sequential monitoring or interim analysis of treatment effects or safety
- providing reports for data and safety monitoring committees
- receiving and merging data from other sources
- multi-site and studies
- outcome and/or covariates that are only partially observable
Contact Us
Unless the proposal is a renewal or resubmission (in which case you should contact our research consultant(s) involved in the project), please submit requests for assistance on proposals by e-mail.
Last Modified:
April 3, 2009
