LI Course
CE Hours: 3 contact hours

Partnership: This workshop is organized in collaboration with the Health Communication Working Group (Chair: Douglas Rupert). If accepted, we plan to see endorsement and co-sponsorship with additional APHA groups, including the Cancer Forum, Public Health Education and Health Promotion and Health Informatics Information Technology Sections, and the Academic Public Health Caucus.

Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: The purpose of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of the NIH grants and review processes. The workshop addresses an important need in public health research, as early career Investigators encounter tremendous challenges in navigating the NIH grant funding system and express desire for hands-on mentoring opportunities with experienced NIH program staff. This particular workshop targets early career investigators conducting cancer control research and seeking federal funding support. Special emphasis will be placed on public health and social and behavioral sciences as applied to cancer prevention and control. Hosted by Program Directors from the Behavioral Research Program at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), this half-day interactive Learning Institute will describe the grant funding and review processes, highlight funding mechanisms, offer tips for successful proposal writing (including a review of recently funded abstracts to teach knowledge and skills for successful proposal writing) , and introduce NCI’s scientific priorities and research portfolio. Our discussion will represent the breadth of research supported by NCI’s Behavior Research Program, including Tobacco Control, Health Communication and Informatics, Process of Care, Health Behavior, and Basic and Bio-behavioral Research. After the presentations, participants will engage in break-out sessions to review and critique one another’s abstracts. During the breakout sessions, faculty will lead discussions on strategies for developing a research program and provide feedback on individual abstracts. The workshop will also include ample time to interact with NCI staff. All attendees should bring a one-page abstract for a proposed project/concept. The abstract should follow the format: Grant purpose/brief proposal summary, background (2-4 sentences), rationale/significance (1-2 sentences), aims/objectives (2-3 sentences), methods/design and analysis (4-6 sentences), implications for anticipated results and contribution to science (1-2 sentences). These will be discussed and critiqued during the breakout sessions.

Session Objectives: 1)Describe the NIH proposal application and review process and tips and strategies for successful grant writing 2)Explain the research portfolio and funding opportunities for public health, behavioral and social science research at the National Cancer Institute 3)Discuss and evaluate scientific ideas generated by workshop participants with the goal to improve potential NCI grant proposals.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)