Division Wide Grant Writing Resources

Scientific careers can be challenging, especially during the transition from trainee to faculty or from junior to mid-level faculty. This webpage has been created to bring together local resources that can help to make these transitions more successful. You will find resources listed below that will help you to obtain and sustain R-level independent funding, and to obtain F and K-level mentored funding. You will also find internal funding mechanisms to help with these transitions. 

Sustaining R-Level Independent Funding

DOM Faculty Grant Writing Workshop Series at University of Colorado

Program Description

The Department of Medicine Research Office will hold a faculty grant proposal development workshop series to provide dedicated writing time, develop proposals, provide peer support, and provide detailed feedback from grant writing experts and senior faculty in the Department. This will be an intensive 9‐week series (one afternoon per week) for faculty who are actively developing NIH R01 or VA/DOD R01‐equivalent proposals for submission in an upcoming cycle.

We will focus on specific components of the proposal: the Specific Aims page, Significance, Innovation, Approach, Introduction (for resubmissions), and the Biosketch. There will be an emphasis on strong grantsmanship and clear

communication. This ‘writing retreat’ style workshop series will be a constructive way to block time to develop your proposals and take advantage of advice from others. The structure, advice, and feedback provided during the workshop sessions will help you develop a strong application.

The workshops will be led by Jennifer Kemp, PhD, Director of the DOM Research Office, with expert input from senior DOM faculty and leadership during the second half of the series. The series occurs twice yearly. 

For questions please contact:

Application Submissions: Alesia El Ali, CRA (alesia.elali@cuanschutz.edu) or DOM Research Office (DOMResearch@ucdenver.edu).

Programmatic Questions: Jennifer T Kemp, PhD (Jennifer.t.kemp@cuanschutz.edu)

National Jewish Health Office of Research Innovation Grant Development Program

The Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health offers customized Grant Writing Workshops for all levels of the greater National Jewish Health academic community, including faculty with independent R01 level funding seeking to establish a sustainable funded research program.  The workshops are conducted over 4 to 6 one hour sessions beginning 6-12 weeks prior to a planned grant submission deadline. The premise is to provide constructive and actionable feedback that iteratively results in improved applications. There is a significant focus on structure and content of the Aims, leading to well-integrated, clear and persuasive Significance, Innovation and Strategy sections.  Feedback is provided orally by 6-8 faculty with a range of seniority and research expertise to ensure that the written product is understandable and interesting to the diverse expertise that comprises typical NIH study sections.  Strengths of the program are flexibility in scheduling and the availability of review faculty with both topic-specific and general expertise.  For training proposals, specific attention to the training program and mentorship plans are provided. Workshops are scheduled on a personalized rolling basis, and the program is led by Dr. Anthony Gerber (gerbera@njhealth.org) and administered by Erin Brown (brownee@njhealth.org)

Obtaining R-Level Independent Funding

CCTSI Pre-R Transition Program

Program Description

The Pre-R program is a pre-submission mock grant review process for faculty who are submitting their first R-level application to the NIH or other granting agencies. This CCTSI program provides the opportunity for anyone to submit their R-type grant proposals for internal review prior to submission to the funding agency. Participants of this program will receive insight into the grant review process and help to improve the science and format of their applications thereby increasing their chances for success. The process requires internal submission of planned R application, or equivalent approximately one-month in advance of NIH deadlines. Core reviewers will then discuss the applications and provide verbal, as well as written feedback for incorporation into the final proposal. Specialty content reviewers will also participate in study sections on an "ad hoc" basis. All applicants receiving reviews are required to attend the mock study section in person.

National Jewish Health Office of Research Innovation Grant Development Program

The Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health offers customized Grant Writing Workshops for all levels of the greater National Jewish Health academic community, including faculty with independent R01 level funding seeking to establish a sustainable funded research program.  The workshops are conducted over 4 to 6 one hour sessions beginning 6-12 weeks prior to a planned grant submission deadline. The premise is to provide constructive and actionable feedback that iteratively results in improved applications. There is a significant focus on structure and content of the Aims, leading to well-integrated, clear and persuasive Significance, Innovation and Strategy sections.  Feedback is provided orally by 6-8 faculty with a range of seniority and research expertise to ensure that the written product is understandable and interesting to the diverse expertise that comprises typical NIH study sections.  Strengths of the program are flexibility in scheduling and the availability of review faculty with both topic-specific and general expertise.  For training proposals, specific attention to the training program and mentorship plans are provided. Workshops are scheduled on a personalized rolling basis, and the program is led by Dr. Anthony Gerber (gerbera@njhealth.org) and administered by Erin Brown (brownee@njhealth.org)

Obtaining K-Level Mentored Funding

Program Description

Assists postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty and their mentors in the writing of successful career development awards by providing a local pre-review of K applications (and their equivalents). Equivalent CDAs should meet the following criteria and include the RFA with the LOI/Application:

Protected time - budget should cover most, if not all, of the PI salary (at least 50% of effort).

Research support - budget should provide resources to perform the research.

Mentored proposal, with both a research plan and a training plan.

As a part of this program, mock grant reviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, corresponding with NIH deadlines, and will enable post-docs, fellows, new faculty, and others to take advantage of internal expertise in writing mentor letters, career development plans, and specific aims. This program is intended for grants that are being submitted in the current NIH cycle!

Please note: Grants that have already been reviewed by study section will be accepted to the PreK program only if the proposal has been revised in response to the critiques, and the summary statements and Introduction page are included with the submission.

In order to get the most out of this program we require participants to have their proposals pre-reviewed by their mentor (or mentoring team). Applicants are required to attend the one-hour block in which their grant is reviewed. Mentors are strongly encouraged to participate as well.

National Jewish Health Office of Research Innovation Grant Development Program

The Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health offers customized Grant Writing Workshops for all levels of the greater National Jewish Health academic community, including faculty with independent R01 level funding seeking to establish a sustainable funded research program.  The workshops are conducted over 4 to 6 one hour sessions beginning 6-12 weeks prior to a planned grant submission deadline. The premise is to provide constructive and actionable feedback that iteratively results in improved applications. There is a significant focus on structure and content of the Aims, leading to well-integrated, clear and persuasive Significance, Innovation and Strategy sections.  Feedback is provided orally by 6-8 faculty with a range of seniority and research expertise to ensure that the written product is understandable and interesting to the diverse expertise that comprises typical NIH study sections.  Strengths of the program are flexibility in scheduling and the availability of review faculty with both topic-specific and general expertise.  For training proposals, specific attention to the training program and mentorship plans are provided. Workshops are scheduled on a personalized rolling basis, and the program is led by Dr. Anthony Gerber (gerbera@njhealth.org) and administered by Erin Brown (brownee@njhealth.org)

Obtaining F-Level Mentored Funding

Pre-F Award (NRSA Fellowships) Grant Review Program at University of Colorado

Program Description 

This program helps students and postdocs prepare and submit successful applications to the NIH for their individual NRSA (F30, F31, F32) fellowships. We provide an informational workshop, some one-on-one advising to applicants who are preparing fellowship applications, and a pre-submission mock grant review. Participants for this program will receive insight into the grant review process, hear discussions of the applications by local reviewers, and receive written reviews. Participants will get this feedback in time to incorporate suggestions and make revisions before their submission of the final proposal to NIH. All participants receiving reviews are required to attend the mock study section.

Am I eligible?

Any PhD student, MD/PhD student, or Postdoctoral Fellow on CU Anschutz Campus planning to submit a Pre-F level NRSA Fellowship.

National Jewish Health Office of Research Innovation Grant Development Program

The Office of Research Innovation at National Jewish Health offers customized Grant Writing Workshops for all levels of the greater National Jewish Health academic community, including faculty with independent R01 level funding seeking to establish a sustainable funded research program.  The workshops are conducted over 4 to 6 one hour sessions beginning 6-12 weeks prior to a planned grant submission deadline. The premise is to provide constructive and actionable feedback that iteratively results in improved applications. There is a significant focus on structure and content of the Aims, leading to well-integrated, clear and persuasive Significance, Innovation and Strategy sections.  Feedback is provided orally by 6-8 faculty with a range of seniority and research expertise to ensure that the written product is understandable and interesting to the diverse expertise that comprises typical NIH study sections.  Strengths of the program are flexibility in scheduling and the availability of review faculty with both topic-specific and general expertise.  For training proposals, specific attention to the training program and mentorship plans are provided. Workshops are scheduled on a personalized rolling basis, and the program is led by Dr. Anthony Gerber (gerbera@njhealth.org) and administered by Erin Brown (brownee@njhealth.org)