SUN-075 A Guide to Professional Development: Funding Your Research Through NICHD

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) leads research and training efforts to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. Under the “New Strategic Plan 2020”, NICHD will focus on priorities to: 1. Understand the Molecular, Cellular, and Structural Basis of Development; 2. Promote Gynecologic, Andrologic, and Reproductive Health; 3. Set the Foundation for Healthy Pregnancies and Lifelong Wellness; 4. Improve Child and Adolescent Health and the Transition to Adulthood; and 5. Advance Safe and Effective Therapeutics and Devices for Pregnant and Lactating Women, Children, and People with Disabilities. Cross-cutting topics include health disparities, prevention, infectious disease, nutrition and global health. NICHD is committed to funding the largest number of meritorious projects, while allowing flexibility to support high program priorities and respond to emerging scientific opportunities. Mechanisms to support individual research and training include research project grants (RPGs), training and career development awards (K awards) and fellowships (Pre and Postdoctoral). There are specific eligibility requirements for each of these mechanisms. Applicants are advised to contact a program officer (PO) and discuss the idea, its relevance to program priorities of NICHD, and potential funding opportunities available. While preparing your application, receive guidance on the grantsmanship from the PO, in addition to peers working at your institution. The PO can help you to understand the peer review process at NIH and suggest study sections with a good fit to review your application. The peer review process is independent of the program administration at NIH. Applicants can avoid some common errors in writing applications by reviewing the NIH website and understanding the NIH grants process. The NIH has recently revised its approach to the review and monitoring of vertebrate animal and human subject research. Applicants may receive guidance both at their institution (from which the application is submitted) and NIH. NICHD has developed new guidelines and processes to enhance and improve clinical trials. Currently, applications may be submitted to separate funding opportunity announcements for “clinical trials required” and “clinical trials optional”. The goal is to ensure adequate clinical trial-specific information in the grant applications for thorough review. Additional new review criteria consider training in good clinical practice and expanded registration and results reporting in ClinicalTrials.gov.