Every neurosurgery residency requires at least one and often two years of research. Unfortunately, various factors have made research funding increasingly scarce, particularly for residents. Knowledge of research money sources and the grant writing process can help one be more productive during residency as well as foster a professional career afterward as a true physician-scientist.
Generally, research funding comes from either government or private sources. Sources of federal government funding can be found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, an exhaustive source of all federal funding programs, including research grants. Many state governments also offer research funding.
The most familiar source for federal research funding is the National Institutes of Health. NIH grants are known by their series letter and number, and the most common of these grants available during residency are the T, F, and K series grants. Training, or T series, grants are issued to institutions. Although it is unlikely that residents would be able to write T series grants, residents may be able to get funding through a faculty member at their institution if it has received this type of grant. Also available to residents are the Fellowship (F) and Career Development (K) series grants, particularly the K08, K32 and the K99/R00 grants. The K99/R00 grant, or Pathway to Independence Grant, merits particular attention to those desiring a career in academics because it allows one to receive a K series grant before a faculty position has been accepted.
Another source is the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation. The NREF offers the Young Clinician Investigator Award, which is only available to junior faculty, and Research Fellowships. The Research Fellowships, available to residents, provide a two-year stipend of .70,000 or a one-year stipend of .40,000 for a specific research project. A complete listing of NREF research funding opportunities can be found on the AANS Web site.
Other funding resources include the Congress of Neurological Surgeons and AANS/CNS sections, which offer similar opportunities for research funding to residents both individually and in conjunction with nonprofit organizations and industry. In addition, GrantsNet, offered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is a searchable database of biomedical and science funding opportunities.
Once a funding source has been identified, the next step is to write a grant proposal. Grant applications may vary in form but will almost certainly address research goals, background and significance of the proposed research topic, preliminary studies the investigator has done, research design and methods, and possibly personal background information. Since research funding is limited, reviewers place a great deal of importance on the probability of success of a research project.
There are a number of resources available on the specifics of grant writing, and one should certainly consult them thoroughly while writing a grant. In general, however, reviewers are asking three fundamental questions. First, is this an important topic worth investigating or a new, innovative research technique? Second, does the research design accurately investigate the subject matter? Third, does the investigator have the resources, both personal and institutional, to carry out the proposed project?
The first two criteria are fairly objective, so the key is to be detailed, display a thorough knowledge of the subject, provide a context for this specific project, and up-to-date with references. However, the last criterion can be somewhat political and subjective. Choosing an experienced mentor with the necessary resources and highlighting one’s personal experience with research can be essential to success.
In summary, there are many sources for research funding, including governmental, private, and through the neurosurgical organizations. Attention to detail, choosing the proper mentor, and emphasizing in the grant application the probability of success will help maximize success in receiving the grant.
K. Michael Webb, MD, is a founding partner with NeuroTexas PLLC, Austin, Texas. Send topic ideas for Residents’ Forum to Dr. Webb at [email protected]. The author reported no conflicts for disclosure.