How to Write a Grant Application

Allan Hackshaw, Deputy Director of the Cancer Research UK and University College London Cancer Trials Centre, and Reader in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, London, UK

• Foreword. Preface.Acknowledgements.About the author.Chapter 1: Overview.1.1 Types of grants.1.2 Types of funding organisations.1.3 Choosing an appropriate funding body.1.4 Contents of the grant application.1.5 Including several studies in one application (project grants).1.6 Translational research sub-studies.1.7 The application process.1.8 Estimating timelines and a planned work schedule.1.9 Intellectual property.1.10 Text, grammar and format.Chapter 2: People involved in the study.2.1 Who should be part of the Study Team?2.2 Other investigators, collaborators and consultants.2.3 The host institution and Sponsor.2.4 Commercial companies.2.5 Oversight committees.Chapter 3: Justifi cation for the study.3.1 Finding background information.3.2 Previous evidence and similar research (why the study is needed now).3.3 Biological plausibility.3.4 Safety of new interventions in clinical trials.3.5 Feasibility.3.6 What will the study contribute?3.7 Summary of the justifi cation for a proposed study.Chapter 4: Describing the study design.4.1 Abstract.4.2 Appendices.4.3 Study objectives and outcome measures.4.4 Types of studies.4.5 Observational studies in humans.4.6 Clinical trials in humans.4.7 Laboratory experiments.4.8 Describing sample size.4.9 Describing the main statistical analyses.4.10 Systematic reviews.Chapter 5: Associated documents with the grant application.5.1 Study protocol.5.2 Participant Information Sheet.5.3 Curricula vitae of the Chief Investigator and all co-applicants.5.4 Letters of support from co-applicants, centre investigators, collaborators, or other advisors.5.5 Letters of support from commercial companies.5.6 Other documents specifi c to the fi eld of research.Chapter 6: Financial costs.6.1 Overview of items to include in the fi nancial costs.6.2 Indirect costs or overheads (full economic costs).6.3 Per patient (or per subject) payments.6.4 Staff costs.6.5 Access to core funds and resources.6.6 Consideration of costs not to be met by the funding body.6.7 Grant applications associated with calls for proposals.6.8 Observational studies in humans.6.9 Clinical trials in humans.6.10 Laboratory experiments.6.11 Systematic reviews.Chapter 7: Funding body review process.7.1 Submitting the application.7.2 Processing the application within the funding body.7.3 Initial reviews (external reviewers).7.4 Funding committee meeting.7.5 Funding committee evaluation.7.6 Feedback to applicants after the meeting.7.7 Responding to the funding committee feedback.Chapter 8: Annual reports and applying for a grant extension.8.1 Annual reports.8.2 Applying for a grant extension.Bibliography.Index.

"Intended for those who are preparing to apply for a clinical grant, this guide covers this complex process in an accessible manner." (Booknews, 1 April 2011)