REPORT

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

Work GroupOn NIDA’s Approach

to Grant-Making

May 2006

The National Institute on Drug Abuse

Other Members

Other Members

NIDA’s Approach to Grant-Making Work Group

NIDA’s Approach to Grant-Making Work Group

Rodolfo Arredondo, Jr., Ed.D.Mark Greenberg, Ph.D.Linda Porrino, Ph.D.Claire E. Sterk, Ph.D.David Vlahov, Ph.D. Constance Weisner, Dr.P.H., M.S.W. Chair

Kathleen Carroll, Ph.D.Tom Kosten, M.D.Scott Lucas, Ph.D.

First Meeting December 6-7, 2005 Second Meeting February 7, 2006

NIDA CouncilMembers

NIDA CouncilMembers

Charge: To produce a written report and determine if anyactions or new policies may be needed on the following…Charge: To produce a written report and determine if anyactions or new policies may be needed on the following…

NIDA’s Approach to Grant-Making Work Group

NIDA’s Approach to Grant-Making Work Group

Protect young investigators Balance between large and small science Guidelines regarding Principal Investigators with

multiple grants Recommendations on the duration of grants

including R01s, centers and program projects Other issues as deemed appropriate

Recommendation TopicsRecommendation Topics

Protecting New Investigators

Enhancing the Science Mission of NIDA

Increasing Research Innovation

Protecting Early Career InvestigatorsProtecting Early Career InvestigatorsRecommendations Directly Addressing New InvestigatorsRecommendations Directly Addressing New Investigators

Provide uniform NIDA-wide data on new investigators. Track success of those who submit grants and are funded. Provide an annual report to Council Set aside funds for R56 and other mechanisms

to fund promising investigators. Track success Support and encourage the development of the CSR

Pilot (Rapid Feedback to Young Investigators).

Protecting Early Career InvestigatorsProtecting Early Career Investigators Recommendations Directly Addressing New InvestigatorsRecommendations Directly Addressing New Investigators

Track and expand mechanisms that are successful in funding these early career investigators, including: – Expand use of Co-PI status for early investigators

– Monitor success of new Pathway to Independence Award (K99R00)

– Evaluate and perhaps expand B/START, I/START

– Examine success of Individual and Institutional Training grants in regard to timing and cost effectiveness

– Expand use of Mentored K mechanisms

Continue data collection begun to monitor NIDA policies

Protecting Early Career InvestigatorsProtecting Early Career Investigators Guidelines about PIs with Large/Multiple GrantsGuidelines about PIs with Large/Multiple Grants

Take into account track record for training and mentoring (including data to outside junior investigators) as part of funding decisions. Total amount of funding should consider:– High quality of science

– Needs of Institute (balancing the portfolio)

– History of PI’s support for developing new investigators

– Provisions in application for including early career investigators

Enhancing Science the Mission of NIDAEnhancing Science the Mission of NIDA Balance between Large vs Small ScienceBalance between Large vs Small Science

Continue joint planning across NIDA for NIH

Roadmap, Blueprint and other trans-NIH funding

opportunities. Monitor the success of different

initiatives.

Examine opportunities for training and mentoring

by programs such as CTN, CJDATS

Keep the research portfolio balanced (recognizing

differences in study sections)

Enhancing Science the Mission of NIDAEnhancing Science the Mission of NIDA Balance between Large vs Small ScienceBalance between Large vs Small Science

Solicit applications for Center grants to maximize programmatic flexibility and budgetary control. Applications solicited by this NIDA-wide announcement should be reviewed once/year. Funding decisions should include:– Quality of the science and innovation – Evidence of collaboration with other Centers and institutions– Needs of the Institute (balancing the NIDA portfolio)– History of support of new investigators

Increasing Research InnovationIncreasing Research Innovation

Establish a NIDA Innovation Committee (similar to NIMH) to consider highly innovative applications beyond the pay line. Provide full or partial support to document progress and address concerns for improved application.

Develop a NIDA-wide definition of innovation that can be used in funding decisions

Evaluate the Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) program to determine if it is supporting innovation at both the initial (R21) and R01 stages

Increasing Research InnovationIncreasing Research Innovation

Designate HIV/AIDS as one of the efforts on an Innovation Committee. New investigators and new ideas on HIV and drug use need to be developed and NIDA should emphasize HIV-designated projects appropriately.

Review how Administrative Supplements are used to ensure that there are not missed opportunities to protect young investigators, enhance NIDA’s science mission, or increase research innovation that falls within the scope of the original goals of funded grants

ConclusionsConclusions

Fundamentally, as an Institute, NIDA is doing well in protecting early career investigators in this era of shrinking funding opportunities.

NIDA is currently promoting innovative research via a number of standard mechanisms.

Improvements on all of these fronts can be made by NIDA continuing activities such as:

– collecting accurate data on new investigators– increasing use of mechanisms that stress innovation and

nurture early investigators (e.g., B/START)– educating PIs that training/mentorship must be present in all

multi-grant or large grant environments– increasing the funding and scope of Mentored K Awards– establishing an Innovation Committee– increasing awareness of the various trans-NIH initiatives, such

and the Roadmap and Blueprint.