How to Apply for Research Funding

Learn how researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine can apply for research funding.

NIH Data Management and Sharing Plan

Sharing research data securely and efficiently is a key step toward supporting and advancing translational science, as it allows for savings in researcher time and effort and greater assurance of reproducibility. In keeping with its earlier data sharing policies, the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy, effective Jan. 25, 2023, requires all grant applications or renewals that generate scientific data to include a robust and detailed plan for how the data will be managed and shared during the entire funded period.

The term “scientific data” is defined in the policy as “The recorded factual material commonly accepted in the scientific community as of sufficient quality to validate and replicate research findings, regardless of whether the data are used to support scholarly publications.”

The Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) should include information on data storage, access policies/procedures, preservation, metadata standards, distribution approaches, and more.

The DMS Plan will be assessed by NIH Program Officers (peer reviewers will comment on the proposed data management budget). The approved plan becomes a Term and Condition of the Notice of Award.

What to Include in your Plan

Data Type
Related Tools, Software and/or Code
Standards
Data Preservation, Access, and Associated Timelines
Access, Distribution, or Reuse Considerations
Oversight of Data Management and Sharing

How to Submit

NIH has developed an optional DMS Plan Format page that aligns with the recommended elements of a DMS Plan.
The DMSP follows the Research Plan section and does not count toward the application page limit.
DMS Plans are recommended to be two pages or less in length.
DMS Plans should be included within the “Other Plan(s)” field on the PHS 398 Research Plan.
A brief summary and associated costs should be submitted as part of the budget and budget justification.
Hypertext (e.g., hyperlinks and URLs) are not allowed in the DMS Plan attachment.

Resources

MU Sample Data Management Sharing Plans, contributed by SOM researchers for informational purposes. (Available with MU log-in credentials)
Find NIH Sample Plans.
An optional DMS Plan format page that aligns with the recommended elements of a DMS Plan.
DMP Tool, a free, open source application that provides a click-through wizard for creating a plan that complies with funder requirements.
DMP Best Practices, provided by MU Libraries.

Grant Proposal Application Process

The application process involves preparing a set of documents that address requirements, both for MU, and for the external funder. MU Sponsored Programs Administration (SPA) requires that applicants submit a detailed internal project budget, that the project be entered into the PeopleSoft system, and that approvals are obtained from individuals on the project, their chairs and deans. Additionally, for applications to federal funders, SPA must confirm that all project personnel are compliant with federal conflict of interest guidelines.

To apply for NIH funding, all investigators must have an eRA Commons ID. If you do not have one, you can request that SPA create one for you by completing the NIH eRA Commons Registration Form. NIH requires applications to be submitted electronically, MU SOM and MU SPA use ASSIST, NIH’s web-based service for the preparation, submission and tracking of grant applications.

Use the application instructions along with the guidance in the funding opportunity announcement, to submit grant applications to NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Tips for Planning and Organizing Your Application

Find a Funding Opportunity (FOA) that Fits Your Research
Determine Application Submission Date
Meet with Office of Medical Research Leadership
Meet with Proposal Development Staff
Obtain Any Required Prior Approvals
Find Collaborators
Consider Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animal Requirements
Organize Your Time to Complete the Application

Short List of Commonly Required Application Documents

Section of Application	Description	Page limit
Project Summary/Abstract	A succinct and accurate description of the proposed work.	30 lines
Project Narrative	Communicates the public health relevance of the project to the public.	No more than 2-3 sentences
Specific Aims	State concisely the goals of the proposed research. Summarize the expected outcome, including the impact on the research field.	1 page
Research Strategy	Nuts and bolts of application, describe research rationale and experiments to accomplish each aim.	12 pages
Biographical Sketch	Documents an individual’s qualifications and experience for a specific role in a project.	5 pages
Facilities and Resources	Describe how the scientific environment in which the research will be done contributes to the probability of success (e.g., institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport). If there are multiple performance sites, describe the resources available at each site.	No page limit

Additional Resources

These samples, templates and boilerplates are provided to help you prepare your grant proposals. They are not intended to be used ‘as is’ and should be customized based on your circumstances. Please review each carefully, check for relevance and edit to suit your grant proposal. Also, please keep in mind that funding agencies frequently change the format and specifications on forms and documents. Always check the current agency guidelines and the funding announcement to be certain that you are following the most current requirements.