How to Write a Grant Proposal

Funding for research is a highly competitive process. For example, over the last 2-decades, the National Institute of Health (NIH) grant acceptance rate has dipped from 31% in 2002 (30,068 applications / 9,396 awarded) to 19% in 2022 (58,872 applications / 11,229 awarded).¹ To increase the odds of funding, a compelling storyline invoking grant makers' immediate attention is necessary.

This document will provide high-level information on the dos and don’ts of grant writing. Essential features increasing the probability of grant award are discussed. This report would be a beneficial read for investigators in the healthcare sector, especially those performing basic and applied research in life science or biomedical sciences.

Before putting pen to paper, the investigator needs to inquire if the grantor and the grantee have a common goal. For example, NIH, the largest funding agency in the world, has around 24 institutes and centers that award grant funding. NIH centers include National Cancer Institute, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Human Genome Research Institute, etc. Each center has its federal appropriation and specific requisites.

Always keep a regular check on the funding opportunity announcement by the funder. Before initiating the grant proposal, the investigator must thoroughly go through the research grant application to maximize the chances of success. ²

There are several types of research grants that are funded by various agencies. These may include research grants, research career, development grants, small business grants, etc.³ It is necessary for the grantee to perform thorough research on finalizing the type of grant idea pitched to the reviewers. Therefore, visiting the guidelines and requisites of the grant advertisement is highly recommended.

One should start planning for the grant proposal around 6-8 months before submission date. This will give the writer time to discuss the grant content with peers, collaborators, and experts. Starting early will give you a cushion for giving thought to the idea, performing due diligence by sifting through the related literature, and eventually getting a broad understanding of the problem statement.

3.1 Regular connection with the program official

Each grant is assigned to a program officer. A grant program officer can provide insightful feedback to the investigator in the context of the content, the overall flow of the idea, etc. This exercise can give a clear understanding to the investigator of whether the research grant proposal is moving in the right direction. Providing a grant summary to the program officer, including high-level information on the specific aims, can help refine the grant and get continued alignment with the funder’s requirements.

Before initiating the grant writing process, identify the appropriate audience/funding department having a common mission/problem statement. Some tools can help direct the grantee to an appropriate funding agency. For example, NIH’s website uses NIH Reporter that matches the investigator’s proposed abstract to the department most likely to provide the necessary grant aid.⁴ Once a pertinent institute is identified, a grantee can tailor the relevant information per the funder’s mission statement.

4.1 Succinct biosketch

A biosketch/CV describing an investigator’s qualification and background helps reviewers to better understand the grant writer’s experience and expertise related to the project. Periodically browse the funder's website and format the CV per the latest guidance. A well-crafted biosketch can make a significant impact on the reviewers.

A grant should tell a crisp story. Clear emphasis should be provided on the gap in the field and how your effort will close this gap. Finer details must be discussed to the extent that the message should not get redundant or boring. Additionally, from start to finish, one should not lose track of the central hypothesis/primary message.

5.1 Clear aims

Goals and aims should be well-defined. This section is central to your grant.⁵ The hypothesis-driven aims must be clearly presented. The aims hypothesis should be tested by reliable methods. Always ensure that you design SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and time-based) goals. Also, a holistic approach should be presented to the reviewer entailing the scenarios where the hypothesis both succeeds or fails. It is generally recommended that the project aims are independent of each other. This way if the first goal is not accomplished, you can still test your second goal.

Consideration must be given to the fact that the research aims are more important than the broader research area itself. For example, working on cutting-edge research aims is far more important than investigating critical research area such as cancer with redundant specific aims.

5.2 Balanced approach

A grant should have a coherent description to the approach for achieving specific aims. Additionally, details should be provided on the alternate aim in case the primary one is not achieved. Discussing the issues that may arise in the primary goal, corresponding potential pitfalls, and a robust alternate strategy substantially improves the probability of funding for research. The central hypothesis must not be overambitious (especially for early-stage/new investigators). The problem description should include a background section comprising state-of-the-art information.⁵ The background, with literature-backed evidence, should discuss the central problem and how your research would contribute to the advancement of the field. Also, an extensive literature search will aid in understanding the type and amount of work done in the field. It may also confirm whether your work is novel. If it’s otherwise, you may save time writing the grant further and perhaps go back to the drawing board to re-analyze other important topics.

5.3 Statistical rigor

The supportive data should be backed up by sound statistical inference. Study data can only be conclusive if it undergoes robust statistical analyses, The grant will probably fare poorly if the experiment analysis is not sufficiently powered. For example, if you think that an oncogene is over-expressed in lung cancer tissues, the statement must be buttressed by an appropriate statistical approach.

5.4 Reasonable Budget and Timeline

Provide a clear description of both the direct and indirect project costs. The direct cost would include funding to the scientific staff, reagents, equipment, etc., while the indirect cost may cover institute's sustainability (for example, supporting the administration, upkeep of the building, etc.). The itemized budget must be clearly defined as it highlights the investigator’s vision of successfully running the project. Connect with your institute’s sponsored research office that will assist in developing the budget.³

The grant must also mention the year-by-year timeline of how each specific aim will progress.

Proofread the content several times. Ensure that the figure, table, and overall presentation are clear, concise, and devoid of redundancy. If the funding proposal is sloppy with poorly labeled legends, typographical errors, etc., then there are high chances that the reviewer may lose interest and may not even go through the full content.

Provide the draft to a peer/colleague for editing. If necessary, run it through a typing assistant program such as Grammarly. Regularly align with subject matter experts. This activity will allow you to draft a high-quality impactful grant. For example, if a pathologist is drafting a grant on diagnosing breast cancer using artificial intelligence, then collaborating with an expert computational biologist will improve the chances of funding.

Industry, foundation, and government-funded grants are advertised regularly. Hence, keep looking for these opportunities. In general, most applicants try more than once to get their grant funded. Therefore, if unsuccessful, consistently refine your grant and apply again with a better than before version.

In addition to the NIH, other organizations such as the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense (DoD), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Wellcome trust, World health organization, etc., sponsor large and small grants. Also, it always adds value to a grant proposal if you can show funding from other organization(s) as well. Table 1 and Table 2 captures the annual research expenditures by top donors in almost a decade.^6,7 A corresponding percent funding breakdown is described in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

Grant writing may initially look like a cumbersome process; however, if the grantee is aware of the big picture and consistently navigates each section, then it could become a satisfying and rewarding process. The key is to start early, have ample time to perform background research, discuss your ideas with mentor(s) and experts, and then take an initial stab towards grant writing. Take time to write important sections, such as designing your central hypothesis and the corresponding specific aims. Have statistically supportive data to support your claims. The funding probability will increase if this supportive data has prior been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

To make your case stronger, invest time in writing an effective biosketch. Also, reach out to the collaborators and experts to provide strong letters of support. Regularly go through the grantmakers’ guidelines to ensure that the content is according to the funder's needs and requirements. Each section must be written in a manner that should excite the reviewers about the following section. High-quality illustrations and formatting add to easy readability. Figure 3 provides high-level information on the elements needed to increase the likelihood of funding.

Always set realistic expectations of budget and timelines. Do not be overambitious with your grant. Setting up too many specific aims and requesting a hazy budget may not bode well with the reviewers. A simple yet effective idea is generally scored highly by the grantmaker.

Grant writing is a long-drawn, complex, and sometimes frustrating process. However, patience, resolve, and passion for a positive change in societal well-being can go a long way in determining an investigator’s success.