K Awards – Common Pitfalls and UCLA CTSI KL2 Resources (2023)
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The document outlines common pitfalls and advice for K proposal submissions, emphasizing the importance of specific, hypothesis-driven research plans and educational objectives. It details resources available through UCLA's CTSI, including KL2 awards aimed at supporting junior faculty in interdisciplinary translation science, and various grant writing mentorship programs. Eligibility criteria and timelines for applications are provided alongside information on biosketch formatting and the K Scholars Society for awarded individuals.
K Awards – Common Pitfalls and UCLA CTSI KL2 Resources (2023)
- 1. K Workshop June 2023 w ww.ctsi.ucla.edu ▪ b r i n g i n g C T S I i n n o v a t i o n s t o t h e g r e a t e s t h e a l t h n e e d s i n L o s A n g e l e s K PROPOSAL - COMMON PITFALLS Ella Nemeth, PhD
- 2. K proposal pitfalls and advice Research plan Education plan Candidate’s statement Biosketch tips
- 3. Research Plan pitfalls • Aims are too exploratory or too vague – should be hypothesis-driven, specific and focused • Proposal solely based on an idea without preliminary data • Aims dependent on each other • Presumptions about aim outcomes (“This aim will demonstrate that X does Y…”) • Pitfalls and alternatives section does not confront the most important pitfalls (focused on small technical issues rather than fundamental conceptual challenges) • Vague statistics
- 4. Finding the right size project • Number and scope of aims should fit the study timeline (avoid too limited or too ambitious) • Are resources adequate to support the project (finances, expertise, populations, animal models, technology…)
- 5. Education Plan • Too complicated • Rule of 3’s for the Education Plan – 3 Aims – 3 Educational objectives – 3 Mentors • Tie together aims, education objectives, mentors
- 6. Example of Education Plan Overview Activity Details Description Objective 1: biochemistry (Mentor: James Watson) Course Biochem 101 glycolytic pathway Seminar photosyntesis overview of XYZ Workshop lipid metabolism mechanisms of treatment Objective 2: statistics (Mentor: James Heckman) Course Stats 203 survival analysis Seminar coding in R methods for coding Workshop data intepretation graphic analysis of results Objective 3: Social networks (Mentor: Nicholas Christakis) Course psych 203 social support and impact Course sociology 404 Social network analysis Tutorial Network structure Tutorial with Dr. Christakis on network structure, dyad analysis, centrality Responsible conduct of research Course biomath 505 Ethics in conduct of research, IRB, … Career Development Seminar K Scholars Society Grant writing, mentoring, communication, leadership and team science
- 7. Example of K Award Timeline
- 8. Candidate’s Statement • Should not be a summary of educational/training pathway, but show the pathway of research interests • Highlight research findings/impact/implications • Emphasize publication trajectory (if a concern) • Focus on Career not Project: – What is the BIG research question you will investigate? – Excite the reader about your 10-year plan (Link K to R01) • Describe separation from mentor (if needed)
- 9. Biosketches • Include link to full bibliography • Preferably do not list: ‒ Abstracts ‒ Publications that are not original science ‒ Publications that are not peer-reviewed
- 10. K Workshop June 2023 w ww.ctsi.ucla.edu ▪ b r i n g i n g C T S I i n n o v a t i o n s t o t h e g r e a t e s t h e a l t h n e e d s i n L o s A n g e l e s CTSI KL2 PROGRAM AND RESOURCES Directors Mitchell Wong, MD, PhD Ella Nemeth, PhD Site Directors Chris Evans, PhD Victor Chaban, PhD Scott Filler, MD Denis Magoffin, PhD UCLA CDU Lundquist Cedars
- 11. Overview of Resources • KL2 Awards • K Scholars Society • Grant studios • Grant Writing Bootcamp • Career studios (proposed) • CTSI Grants Library • Virtual office hours • K and R Workshops
- 12. KL2 Award Overview Career development support for junior faculty within the UCLA CTSI Consortium Interdisciplinary, translational science (basic, clinical and HSR) Similar in structure to an NIH K CDA application
- 13. KL2 Support • Annual award, renewable for up to 3 years (and contingent on the UCLA CTSI competitive renewal) • Support: $130k maximum direct costs per year – $75k salary – $53k benefits / research support / tuition&career development / statistical support – $2k travel
- 14. Eligibility • Doctoral-level degree (MD, PhD, DDS, PharmD) • Faculty title by the grant start date (July 1) • Commit 75% of effort to KL2 (50% minimum for some specialties like surgery) • U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national or permanent U.S. resident
- 15. Eligibility (Prior/Pending Grants) • May have had a small grant (R03, R21) • May have had prior K12 funding, but total K12 + KL2 funding cannot exceed 5 years • Cannot be PI on prior or current for: – NIH R01 or equivalent grant (direct costs>$100k per year) – K01/K08/K23 or other NIH K award – VA Career Development award or R01-equivalent grant If submitted K to NIH in Cycle Eligible to Apply for KL2 2024 May, June, July 2023 Yes September, October, November 2023 Yes January, February, March 2024 No
- 16. Annual Application Timeline • Pre-Application deadline: Nov/Dec • Full Application deadline: late February • Applicant interviews: May • Awardees will be notified by late May-early June • Grant start date July 1st (no exceptions)
- 18. The Grant Library • Successful (K, R, U) grants and new format NIH Biosketches • Secure platform for sharing grants • Video instructions on how to request access: – http://ctsi.ucla.edu/funding/pages/sample • To access: – http://intranet.ctsi.ucla.edu
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- 21. UCLA CTSI K Scholars Society • Only for K/CDA awardees within UCLA CTSI institutions • 2-year curriculum (monthly seminars): - Training in grant writing, communication, team science, entrepreneurship and leadership - Work-in-progress presentations - Mock study sections - Open discussion sessions based on scholars’ interests and questions - Pre- and post-grants management - Equity, diversity and inclusion • Professional grant writer consultations • Open office hours with KL2 directors • Recommend including K Scholars Society in CDA education plan https://ctsi.ucla.edu/funding/pages/boilerplates
- 22. Grant Studios – Individual Scholars • Longitudinal mentoring for K and R grant writing • Priority for K Scholar Society and applicants to the KL2 grant program • Studios: - 3 Senior scientific/career/statistical studio mentors with expertise in K or R grants - Meet 3 times from concept to final product - Participation in mock study section for final review
- 23. Grant Writing Bootcamp – groups of scholars • Longitudinal group seminars, organized jointly by CTSI and DGSOM OPSCD (Office for Physician-Scientist Career Development) • K and R bootcamps • ~4-8 scholars per bootcamp • Meet bimonthly for ~4 months prior to each NIH cycle: – Summer (June-Sept) for October deadline – Fall (Oct-Jan) for Feb deadline – Spring (Feb-May) for June deadline • Formal rollout of the bootcamps this summer (announcement will be in Aug/Sept to start bootcamp in October for the Feb 2024 deadline)
- 24. Summary of Resources KL2 Awards K Scholars Society Grants Library Grant studios (individual or group)