Grant writing 101.
Writing a grant is a hefty undertaking. Start by surrounding yourself with a successful mentor and accompanying team with a good track record. Get organized, select clear goals and objectives to your project. Once the foundation for the grant is set, begin by generating a robust hypothesis. Once your hypothesis is clearly defined, you should contact the project officer of the specific grant for which you are applying; they can help identify if the proposal meets an area of need. The basic components of a grant include the following: the face page, which highlights the key contributors; followed by table of contents; abstract; biographical sketches, which are minicurriculum vitae; budget; research plan, which is composed mostly of background, significance, and specific aims; and lastly, references cited. Be sure to follow specific formatting. Use resources including the internet to find an appropriate grant. Finally, given the confines of a busy surgical practice and the significant amount of work necessary to complete a grant, it is essential that the work begins early and well in advance of the proposed deadline.
Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Jason T
JT
Wiseman
Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Karim
K
Alavi
Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts.
Robert J
RJ
Milner
biographical sketches; budget; face page; grant hypothesis; letters of support; mentorship; research plan; specific aims