Department of Medicine Research Support

Facilitating our faculty’s success and productivity in research remains a top priority for the Department of Medicine (DOM). Certainly, this begins with hiring extraordinarily talented basic and clinical scientists. The DOM commitment also extends to providing the resources and environment that our researchers need to succeed. With this in mind, the DOM has strategically invested in the following research resources:

1. Biostatistical support: The AHC’s Biostatistical Design and Consulting Center (BDAC) can assist faculty with study design, preparation of grant applications, database design and development, data management, statistical analysis, results summarization, and manuscript writing. The DOM will support faculty use of these services.  Access is coordinated through Cynthia Davey, Associate Director of BDAC, 612-624-7656, davey002@umn.edu.
   
2. Scientific writing: Anne Marie Weber-Main, PhD, has joined the DOM as a research medical editor and scientific writing consultant. Dr. Weber-Main can provide faculty with critical review and substantive editing of their written research products (primarily grant proposals and articles for peer-reviewed journals), as well as personalized coaching in areas such as productive academic writing. A document that summarizes her expertise is attached. To request assistance from Anne Marie, contact her at 612-625-7433, weber005@umn.edu.
   
3. Pre-submission peer review of grant application drafts: Faculty can benefit from a rigorous “study section-like” review of their specific aims and/or full proposals – before they submit to potential funders. In today’s highly competitive funding environment, there is no better way to increase your application’s quality. A menu of review options is available. In brief, these include:
   
   
   • Early study section review of a brief (1-2 page) “concept proposal.” A study section of senior faculty is convened to review a short written overview of the project’s specific aims, hypotheses, significance, and methods. PI’s sit in on the study section, with the opportunity for Q&A with reviewers during the second half of the session. This ideally occurs 3 to 6 months before the submission deadline, but can be tailored to shorter timelines when agencies issue an unscheduled “Request for Applications” (RFA).
     
   • Study section review of full proposal draft.  A study section is convened as for option “a.” A draft of the complete application is reviewed. This ideally occurs 6-12 weeks before the submission deadline so that investigators have ample time to make recommended revisions, but can be tailored to meet shorter timelines, for example when agencies issue an unscheduled RFA.
     
   • Workshop for faculty preparing “R-series” proposals.  Drs. Dick King and Weber-Main co-facilitate this weekly, 3-month-long workshop, designed primarily for faculty actively writing an “R-series” grant. Participants review drafts of one another’s grant sections, from specific aims through design and methods. The series culminates in a formal “study section” review of the complete draft. The next series is slated to begin in April 2009. Contact Dr. King or Anne Marie Weber-Main for more information (kingx002@umn.edu; weber005@umn.edu).

All DOM faculty are eligible for these resources. However, we are particularly committed to supporting faculty during their first 5 to 7 years in rank: instructors/assistant professors, faculty transitioning from career-development awards to their first “R-level” grant, and faculty with their first “R-level” grant seeking their first competitive renewal. Additional guiding principles for prioritization of BDAC support are as follows:

1. Pre-submission support for grant proposal development has priority over “unfunded analyses” for manuscript preparation.
   
2. Priority is given to grant applications in the following order:
   a. national, peer-reviewed applications (e.g., NIH, CDC)
   b. foundation, peer-reviewed applications
   c. locally funded, peer-reviewed applications
   d. investigator-initiated industry applications
   
3. Faculty without current resources for statistical support will have priority over those with current funding.

If you have questions about these resources, please talk with Drs. Anne Joseph, Dick King, Peter Bitterman, or Wes Miller.