DCS 5106:
Grant Writing & Funding Strategies

This course will review the different types of federal grant mechanisms as well as grants or contracts from research foundations, advocacy organizations and industry. How to write a persuasive, well-reasoned application will be the main focus of the course including the budget, resources and environment, preliminary data, and the research plan.  Course objectives are:

1. Understand the application solicitation and review process.
2. Understand the most common funding mechanisms (e.g., R-01, R-03, R-21, R-34, K-02, K-08, K-23, K-99)
3. Gain knowledge about grant proposal writing, and about how to address specifically the proposal components such as specific aims, background and significance, methods, and data analysis and human subjects.
4. Gain knowledge in how to optimally word, format and present research ideas to enhance reviewer enthusiasm
5. Gain knowledge of how to evaluate and critique research proposals.
6. Gain knowledge of how to respond to summary statements with critiques of submitted application

Prerequisites:  The following three courses are strongly preferred: 

• DCS 5103 Clinical Research Questions and Methods
• DCS 5204 Clinical Research Design and Analysis
• DCS 5301 Clinical Research Protocol Development

Relevant experience may be substituted at the Course Director's discretion:

Credit: 1 hour, required for Clinical Scholars and Master's degree program students

Grading Criteria: Pass/Fail. The grade is based on a final proposal (60%), class participation (20%) and on completion of other assignments (20%). Satisfactory completion of the course requires the following:

1. Attendance Requirement: 66% of the class hours, 4 sessions. 
2. Two-five page written critique of a grant proposal supplied by Course Director.
3. Development of a 2-page personal checklist for reviewing one’s own grant.

Semester Offered: Spring 

Course Directors:  

Robert D. Toto, MD, Professor, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Nephrology (H5.122), phone: 214 648-3482, fax: 214 648-2071

Alice Chang, MD, Instructor, Dept. of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology (E5.506), phone: 214 648-3494, fax: 214 648-8917

Course Administrator: Mack Dressler, Education Coordinator, Dept. of Clinical Sciences (E5.506), phone: 214 648-2558, fax: 214 648-3934