PO1 and Center Grants

Last week, we held a panel on putting together PO1 and Center grants, or Large Team Grants (LTGs). Panelists included researchers who had successfully competed for LTGs and those who had facilitated putting those grant proposals together. Panelists agreed that putting an LTG together takes about 3-5 years and endeavors like these must be led by senior investigators with a substantial record of past funding. Some participants asked why it was worth the work that LTGs require when getting funded with an R01 is much easier for established investigators. Dr. John Hokanson, Professor in the Colorado School of Public Health, explained that LTGs allow you to do more innovative and collaborative science than you can do as an independent investigator. His enthusiasm was apparent as he described the cutting-edge research he'd been able to lead through developing LTG projects and proposals.

Furthermore, we're seeing funding agencies and the science community at large call for proposals that engage big questions that often call for multiple PIs from various fields coming together to offer substantial solutions and steps forward. LTGs are exciting and next level, but they are a lot of work and a lot of planning. Below are tips the panelists offered in working toward an LTG.

• Give yourself time: As mentioned, panelists agreed that it takes 3-5 years to build your team, develop your projects, and put together your grant proposal.
• Contact your Program Officer early and often to discuss your ideas and begin to build their understanding and buy-in for your LTG.
• Focus on integration: It's not enough to just have a series of great projects, you need to show how the sum of the whole is greater than its parts.
• Develop your story: You need to become a story-teller to convey the necessity and excitement of your program.
• Establish clear communication upfront: As you develop your team, make sure you're all clear on expectations and commitments so the wheels don't come off as you build momentum.
• Offer a diagram: When you're at the point of proposal writing, show your reviewers visually how all the parts of your program/center work together.
• Consider submitting R01s at the same time: If you're submitting a P01, you can also submit individual projects to the NIH as R01s at the same time. This way if your P01 is not funded, but some R01s are, your project can get going and you can look to revise the P01 for the next cycle building on what's been done with the R01s.
• Work with people who have had LTGs. Even for the most seasoned investigator, an LTG is a challenge. Be sure to reach out to those PIs who have developed an LTG successfully to get their insight, tips, and mentorship.

LTGs can sometimes seem insurmountable, but the opportunities that lie in large team science are worth the work and there is potential in receiving funding for your large endeavor for 10+ years. Think of the possibilities within that time!

Resources:

Strategies for Planning, Developing, and Writing Large Team Grants - Mike Cronan

PO1 Guide for Reviewers - NIH