Path to Independence Program/K Club
published by:
December 12, 2012
We are pleased to offer two grant review programs: the Path to Independence Program for R01s and the new K Club for Career Development Awards.
Current and past participants, input your scores and/or feedback about our programs here.
Path to Independence Program
The Path to Independence Program is designed to help Assistant Professors secure NIH R01 or DOD funding. Coordinated by the SOM Office for Faculty Development, under the direction of Mark Dewhirst, DVM, PhD, Associate Dean for Faculty Mentoring, the program consists of structured reviews and feedback on R01 applications or DOD Letters of Intent by experienced senior faculty who have served as reviewers for NIH. The program is offered three times per year to coincide with NIH R01 application submission deadlines. The program has 3 parts and participants should plan to participate in all three steps. (An illustration of the Path to Independence Program process and time commitment can be downloaded here). Additionally, participants should plan to attend one of two orientation sessions to pick up registration materials and a grant writing workbook, as well as to learn about the program.
Orientation
Participants are required to attend one of two orientation sessions, either on Monday, June 10, 2013; from 11:30-12:30 am, or Tuesday, June 11, from 7:30-8:30 am. Lunch or breakfast will provided. This networking event provides participants with the opportunity to pick up a Grant Writer's Workbook by Russell and Morrison, grant writing resources compiled by the Office for Faculty Development, and other program materials. Participants do not need to attend for the whole hour and are welcome to stop in briefly.
Specific Aims Workshops
In these workshops, small groups of applicants will meet to review the specific aims of their application, with the objective of making them as concise and clear as possible. The Specific Aims page should be an executive summary of the whole grant. It needs to be written extremely well, because it is the one part of the grant that the majority of the study section will read. It is also used internally by NIH grant officials for making decisions about the grants to support among those whose scores fall within the fundable range. The workshops will be led by Dr. Dewhirst and other senior faculty members.
Internal Review of Draft Applications
Applicants will submit full drafts of their applications approximately two months prior to each NIH deadline date (see internal submission deadlines below), for an internal review by senior Duke faculty members who have experience as NIH reviewers. Applicants will receive a comprehensive set of comments from these reviewers.
Feedback Sessions
In these sessions, held approximately 1 month prior to the NIH deadline, applicants will meet with reviewers to present their responses and amended applications based on comments from the Internal Review. Reviewers will provide additional feedback and guidance on opportunities to enhance the applicant’s chances of achieving a fundable score.
How to Participate
Potential participants must register their intent to participate. Selection for participation will be on a first-come-first served basis and preference will be made for first R01 grants or resubmissions of first R01 grants. Upon registration, applicants must provide a signed nomination letter (template found here) from the applicant's Department Chair OR Division Chief. Additionally, applicants must provide a brief summary of their proposal and a draft of their Specific Aims page. Late submissions will not be considered. Registration now available; click here.
Timeline
NIH Submission Date | February 5 | June 5 | October 5 |
Registration Due | September 28 | January 28 | May 29 |
Specific Aims Workshops | October | February | June |
Follow-up Workshops | November | March | July |
Full Draft Due for Internal Review | December 1 | April 1 | August 1 |
Comments Returned | December 15 | April 15 | August 15 |
Discussion Sessions | First week January | First week May | First week September |
Please Note: This timeline is a general outline of the program schedule. At the close of each registration period, participants will be contacted about scheduling the exact dates for their specific workshops.
K Club
The K Club is a program designed to help junior faculty prepare career development (K) grant applications. As above, this program consists of structured reviews and feedback on K applications by experienced senior faculty who have served as reviewers for NIH. The program is offered three times per year to coincide with NIH application submission deadlines. The program includes a two part seminar series, three workshops, and an internal review; participants should plan to participate in all six steps. Additionally, participants should plan to attend one of two orientation sessions to pick up registration materials and a grant writing workbook, as well as to learn about the program.
Orientation
Participants are required to attend one of two orientation sessions, either on Monday, June 10, from 11:30-12:30 am, or Tuesday, June 11, from 7:30-8:30 am. Lunch or breakfast will provided. This networking event provides participants with the opportunity to pick up a Grant Writer's Workbook by Russell and Morrison, grant writing resources compiled by the Office for Faculty Development, and other program materials. Participants do not need to attend for the whole hour and are welcome to stop in briefly.
Participants are required to attend one of two orientation sessions, either on Monday, June 10, from 11:30-12:30 am, or Tuesday, June 11, from 7:30-8:30 am. Lunch or breakfast will provided. This networking event provides participants with the opportunity to pick up a Grant Writer's Workbook by Russell and Morrison, grant writing resources compiled by the Office for Faculty Development, and other program materials. Participants do not need to attend for the whole hour and are welcome to stop in briefly.
Three Workshops
In these workshops, small groups of applicants will meet to review the specific aims, abstracts, and career development plans with the objective of making them as concise and clear as possible. The workshops will be led by Dr. Dewhirst, other senior faculty members, and faculty who have successfully obtained K awards.
Internal Review of Draft Applications
Applicants will submit full drafts of their applications approximately two months prior to each NIH deadline date (see internal submission deadlines below), for an internal review by senior Duke faculty members who have experience as NIH reviewers. Applicants will receive a comprehensive set of comments from these reviewers.
Feedback Sessions
In these sessions, held approximately 1 month prior to the NIH deadline, applicants will meet with reviewers to present their responses and amended applications based on comments from the Internal Review. Reviewers will provide additional feedback and guidance on opportunities to enhance the applicant’s chances of achieving a fundable score.
How to Participate
Upon registration, applicants must provide a nomination letter from the applicant's Department Chair or Division Chief. Nomination form can be found here. Additionally, applicants must provide a letter of support from his or her primary mentor, a summary of the proposal, and a draft of their Specific aims. Letters of support from primary mentors should indicate the applicant's readiness to prepare and hold a K award, and the applicant's ability to commit to the requirements of the program. Late submissions will not be considered. Participation will be limited to twenty participants. Registration now available, click here.
If you have not secured a mentoring committee for your career development grant, Dr. Dewhirst and Dr. Freel will meet with you to help discuss possibilities. To set up a meeting with a member of the Faculty Mentoring team, please contact Paige Smith at paige.smith@duke.edu.
Timeline
NIH Submission Date | February 12 | June 12 | October 12 |
Registration Due | September 28 | January 28 | May 28 |
Specific Aims Workshops | October | February | June |
Follow-up Workshops | November | March | July |
Career Development Plan Workshops | November | March | July |
Full Draft Due for Internal Review | December 1 | April 1 | August 1 |
Comments Returned | December 15 | April 15 | August 15 |
Discussion Sessions | First week January | First week May | First week September |
Please Note: This timeline is a general outline of the program schedule. At the close of each registration period, participants will be contacted about scheduling the exact dates for their specific workshops.
For questions, please contact:
Mark Dewhirst, DVM, PhD | or | Stephanie Freel, PhD or Paige Smith, BA 919.684.8208 919.684.1938 |
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