Over the years, there has been varying advice about the best type of grant with which to launch your career–R21, R03, R01? NIH recently issued a guide notice suggesting that you consider an R01 for a number of reasons. As you may know, New or Early Stage Investigator Status affords you special consideration during the peer review process for R01 grants.
Special consideration for Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) during the Peer Review process means that peer reviewers will focus more on the investigator’s experience and training rather than the record of accomplishments that have advanced the investigator’s chosen field. Furthermore, ESIs are not expected to provide the same depth of preliminary data as one would expect from an established investigator.
Additionally, the three to five year award period for an R01 provides more time for new investigators to establish themselves than does the two-year funding limit of R03s and R21s.
To help new investigators prepare successful R01 applications, the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases has published a set of outstanding R01 applications and summary statements. Here you may read two complete R01 application packages along with the summaries and recommendations of the committees that reviewed them. Remember that the structure and presentation of an application may vary depending on the type of scientific project proposed. You might also consider seeking out an NIH-funded investigator in your field and asking to read his or her application. Please note that the percentiles and pritority scores assigned do not reflect the new, enhanced peer review criteria.
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