What Makes a Good Grant Application? Si â n Aggett and Michelle Jimenez with a little bit from Laura Harper and a lot from you!

“Good writing will not save bad ideas, but bad writing can kill good ones.” Jacob Kraicer The Art of Grantsmanship

Lifecycle of an application Preliminary application Peer Review Funding Committee Full Application Interview Committee 4 – 6 months for external review & process (Where necessary) Decision (in some of the larger schemes)

MSc/PhD training Fellowship schemes for Developing Country researchers* Research Training Fellowship Intermediate Research Fellowship 10 yrs Post-doc 3 yrs Post-doc 5 yrs Post-doc PhD *which aim to stimulate and foster research on public health and tropical medicine Senior Research Fellowships Principal Research Fellowship

The P’s Process Person Project Place

Person

Project

Place

Person Good basic knowledge Demonstrable potential Show how the fellowship is a career step Closely involved in formulating and writing the proposal

Good basic knowledge

Demonstrable potential

Show how the fellowship is a career step

Closely involved in formulating and writing the proposal

Project Novel, interesting, relevant, asking the right questions High scientific merit Clear aims, objectives, study design Realistic, achievable Risks, contingencies Must provide valid training; not an extra pair of hands Guidance from supervisor is critical

Novel, interesting, relevant, asking the right questions

High scientific merit

Clear aims, objectives, study design

Realistic, achievable

Risks, contingencies

Must provide valid training; not an extra pair of hands

Guidance from supervisor is critical

Place Which host laboratory? Supervision, expertise, facilities Additional skills, new ideas, fresh challenges Training acquired – generic, specific Other training elsewhere? If not moving, why? Mentorship – monitoring progress, assessment Record of supervisor/mentor

Which host laboratory?

Supervision, expertise, facilities

Additional skills, new ideas, fresh challenges

Training acquired – generic, specific

Other training elsewhere?

If not moving, why?

Mentorship – monitoring progress, assessment

Record of supervisor/mentor

Livestock for Life £30,000 - £250,000 Public engagement scheme linked to Animal Health in the Developing World (AHDW) scheme Three themes: Stakeholder Engagement Education and Training Policy and Advocacy Two Rounds, 19 projects funded

£30,000 - £250,000

Public engagement scheme linked to Animal Health in the Developing World (AHDW) scheme

Three themes: Stakeholder Engagement

Education and Training Policy and Advocacy

Two Rounds, 19 projects funded

People Awards Up to £30,000 Exhibitions, events, debates, art projects and drama Fast track Biomedical focus Wide range of organisations Encourage partnerships, collaborations and innovation

Up to £30,000

Exhibitions, events, debates, art projects and drama

Fast track

Biomedical focus

Wide range of organisations

Encourage partnerships, collaborations and innovation

Public Engagement-People Awards People Awards Education “ Arts” Events & Debates Exhibitions Science Festivals Plays & Films

Projects should… Be novel or innovative Consider Social, Cultural, Ethical and Historical Issues Use different creative forms as tools of communication

Be novel or innovative

Consider Social, Cultural, Ethical and Historical Issues

Use different creative forms as tools of communication

Stop Talking!!! Activity 30-40 minutes in committees Read 4 applications and the scheme guidelines Together decide which 2 applications to fund Assign a note taker- Note any observations/ recommendations that come out of the process Assign a Chairperson Discuss these within group 5-10 mins Feedback

Activity

30-40 minutes in committees

Read 4 applications and the scheme guidelines

Together decide which 2 applications to fund

Assign a note taker- Note any observations/ recommendations that come out of the process

Assign a Chairperson

Discuss these within group 5-10 mins

Feedback

Have we covered? Interesting, important area of health research Value for money Appropriate target audience Good evaluation plans Good project summary

Interesting, important area of health research

Value for money

Appropriate target audience

Good evaluation plans

Good project summary

How do I make sure I have a good project summary ? Most important section in your application First part read Sets first impression Write it last

Most important section in your application

First part read

Sets first impression

Write it last

Did you get these ones? Clear aims, objectives and rationale Realistic timetables/objectives (SMART) Should be "a joy to read" Well-focused, clear, well organized and accurate Important, significant, and worth supporting – this needs to be spelled out

Clear aims, objectives and rationale

Realistic timetables/objectives (SMART)

Should be "a joy to read"

Well-focused, clear, well organized and accurate

Important, significant, and worth supporting

– this needs to be spelled out

Thanks!