title: A curbstone consult to applicants for National Institute of Mental Health grant support.
abstract: With research budgets tight and review procedures being streamlined, applicants for research funds, especially newer investigators, may become disheartened. This article provides advice that we believe improves the quality of a written application. We detail ideas for how to develop applications that are complete and most easily understood by reviewers. Important elements include: a focus on selected, specific critical hypotheses that have both clinical and theoretical significance, documenting feasibility, establishing reliable effect sizes, providing specific analyses for each hypothesis, and writing a clear, well-articulated, "reader-friendly" application. In addition, we emphasize the value of collegial review and critique of the application prior to submission. We believe this "curbstone" advice will facilitate a well-reasoned review and if funds are available, eventual funding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry at St. Paul, Dallas, TX 75235, USA.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gullion
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Prien
mesh_terms: D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D017712:Peer Review, Research; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D014481:United States