Grants

Helps researchers identify appropriate funding opportunities. One of the primary goals of the Research Resources (R2) Office is to help Mailman School researchers navigate the grant writing and submission process. To accomplish this goal, the R2 Office performs the following functions:

  • Provides trainings and workshops on grant writing, development, and submission.
  • Assists faculty members with identifying collaborators.
  • Offers individualized assistance with brainstorming, grant writing, editing and formatting grant text.

Please note changes to the DHHS Salary Cap. More information available from Columbia University's Sponsored Projects Administration.

Click Here For Standard Budget Spreadsheets To Be Used By All Departments And PIs For Grant Submissions, Provided By MSPH/SPA

  1. New Budget Proposal Template
  2. Genetic Detail Budget Template

Getting Started

Organizational Tools for Grant Planning

Grant Planning Forms

The R2 Office suggests completing the following forms early in the grant planning process. These forms can be shared with your study team or potential collaborators, or can be used to simply organize your thoughts. Access the Word document versions of these grant planning forms below:

Grant Planning File Organization

The R2 Office suggests maintaining both electronic and hard files while preparing a grant for submission. To help organize your materials we have prepared a document with suggested labels for your electronic and hard files.

To access “cheat sheets” for several common grant mechanisms, a Grant Pre-Submission Checklist, sample templates for grant components, and other useful information, please visit Preparing a Grant. For information about submitting grants to NIH or other agencies, please visit Submitting a Grant.

Finding Collaborators and Consultants

Columbia University offers the following resources to help researchers identify collaborators and consultants for grant applications:

Biostatistics Consultation Service

The Department of Biostatistics has for many years provided a free Biostatistics Consulting Service (BCS) for CUMC researchers. Currently administered by the Design and Biostatistics Resource (DBR) of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, the BCS provides design, statistical, and analytical services to assist researchers at Columbia. The service offers a one-hour consultation and up to five hours of free follow-up support.

To learn more about the DBR or complete an online request form, please email Dr. Roger Vaughan, DBR Director and Professor of Biostatistics.

Tips on Collaborating with your Biostatistician (from Dr. Bruce Levin, Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics).

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at CIESIN

CIESIN, the Center for International Earth Science Information Network, is a research and data center of the Earth Institute at Columbia University that addresses human interactions in the environment. CIESIN focuses on how humans affect and manage the environment, and in turn how environmental variability and change affect society. CIESIN utilizes scientific data and advanced information technology to help bridge the gaps between scientific disciplines and the divide between science and policy.

CIESIN’s Geospatial Applications Division (GAD) specializes in the development of GIS data sets, applications, and interactive mapping tools that help researchers incorporate spatial analysis into their work. GAD provides GIS support for interdisciplinary programs and projects at Columbia and beyond. CIESIN offers academic course work through a variety of schools at Columbia. Courses are based on geospatial technologies, spatial data management, and spatial analysis and modeling techniques, including GIS for Public Health, Environmental Data Analysis, and GIS for Resource, Environmental, and Infrastructure Management. In addition, CIESIN hosts a GIS Training Center that provides a wide array of training courses for the Columbia community and the general public.

For more information please visit the CIESIN website or contact Mark Becker, Associate Director of CIESIN’s Geospatial Applications Division, via email or at 845-365-8980.

Taub Institute Genomics Core at CUMC

The Taub Institute Genomics Core offers comprehensive services to support researchers conducting genomics-related research, consultation in design of genetic studies, and assistance with data analysis. Information about the Taub Institute Genomics Core, including a Service Request Form, can be found on the Taub Institute’s website.

SPIRE

Dr. Melissa Begg leads a new interdisciplinary science imitative, SPIRE (Supporting & Promoting Interdisciplinary Research & Education), that facilitates collaborations among scientists. For more information, please contact Dr. Begg.

SPIN

The Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN) is an extensive research funding opportunity database within InfoEd, and is available to all Columbia University employees. SPIN contains more than 40,000 opportunities from more than 10,000 sponsors, including research grants, fellowships and training grants from federal and non-federal sponsors.

SPIN was recently updated to permit greater flexibility in creating targeted funding searches. Each search can be saved so that automated emails of new opportunities will be sent as they become available.

You can access SPIN now by doing the following:

In the upper right-hand corner are various training videos to get you started (Video #1 is not applicable to Columbia University employees).

For more information, please contact Stephanie Scott at sfs2110@columbia.edu, or SPA-ebiz@columbia.edu.

Preparing a Grant Proposal

Application Due Dates

To ensure sufficient time to prepare and submit a grant, it is important to note the grant due date when you begin to prepare an application. If you will be submitting to the NIH, consult the Standard NIH Due Dates website to determine when your application will be due to the agency.

Next, note that the Mailman School requires a draft of your grant to be submitted to the Mailman School Sponsored Projects office by your Department Administrator/ Budget Officer 10 business days prior to the application due date. Columbia Univeristy policy states that an application must be submitted to Sponsored Projects for submission 5 business days prior to the application due date. Keep these dates in mind when developing a grant preparation and submission timeline.

Grant Application Guidance Documents

Click Here For Standard Budget Spreadsheets To Be Used By All Departments And PIs For Grant Submissions, Provided By MSPH/SPA

  1. New Budget Proposal Template
  2. Genetic Detail Budget Template

The following documents, prepared by the Mailman Research Resources Office (R2), are designed to help researchers prepare and submit grants at the Mailman School:

NIH Grant Application Guidance Documents:

NIH R01 (Research Project Grant) Application Guidance Document

NIH R03 (Small Grant Program) Application Guidance Document

NIH R21 (Exploratory/Development Research Grant) Application Guidance Document

NIH F31/F31-Diversity (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships)

NIH F32 (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships)

Grant Preparation Checklist:

This blank grant preparation checklist may help investigators plan grant submissions and divide tasks among a grantwriting team.

Non-NIH Grant Application Guidance Documents:

Department of Defense (DOD) Funding Overview and Application Guidance Document

Department of Justice (DOJ) Funding Overview and Application Guidance Document

NSF Funding Overview and Application Guidance Document

Page limits for NIH Grants

Please visit the Table of Page Limits for NIH Forms. Review this table carefully as you prepare your grant applicationl.

Preparing a Budget

Individual PIs should contact their departmental administrator/ grants administrator as soon as they decide to submit a grant proposal to discuss all aspects of the application, including budget preparation. In most cases, the applicant will detail project costs and a departmental administrator will prepare a budget spreadsheet using a template, like this one, prepared and reccomended by SPA.

The NIH offers guidance on developing a budget.

SPA recommends using this excel spreadsheet to prepare the budgets internally. If you would like additional guidance on how to use this spreadsheet, please contact the R2 Office.

Please note NIH Salary Limitations for Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts while preparing budgets for NIH grant proposals. 

Preparing an Abstract and Specific Aims

Please visit our Sessions page to see material from our Specific Aims Development Panel.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has compiled a page of Examples of Outstanding Titles and Abstracts From New NIAID Investigators.

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Information on training in the Responsible Conduct of Research is a required component of some career development and individual fellowhsip applications. Please see this list of Resources for Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research available to Mailman School investigators.

Resources and Regulations

The Office of Research Administration has prepared a list of Sponsored Projects Application Resources. Before starting an application, review the Mailman School Pre-Award Application Checklist, the Mailman School Application Pre-Submission Document, and the list of University Compliance Forms.

MSPH/SPA (Sponsored Projects Administration) Website

Submitting a Grant Application

For both electronic and paper submissions, indicate clearly who is responsible for finalizing each grant component and who will officially submit the final grant application. Typically, your DA or grants management office will submit your grant application electronically to Grants.gov. If you are unsure whom to contact, email the R2 Office. Several weeks before your submission deadline, please contact your Department Administrator (DA) or grants management office and become familiar with your department’s grant submission policies and instructions. Contact information for Department Administrators can be found in the School Directory.

Standard NIH Due Dates

The NIH has three submission cycles for most commonly used grant mechanisms. To learn more about the due dates and additional details, including Review and Award Cycles and Submission Policies (Electronic & Paper Applications) visit Standard Due Dates for Competing Applications.

Mailman School Internal Due Dates

According to Mailman School policy, a draft of your grant must be submitted to the Mailman Grants and Contacts office ten business days prior to the agency due date. The finalized application must be ready for submission five business days before the agency due date. Please review the Mailman Internal Grant Due Dates as you prepare to submit your grant.

After your grant is submitted, you may receive electronic error and warning messages from Grants.gov. Check your email regularly and be available to communicate with your DA or grants management office in the days following your submission.

Your response to error messages is time sensitive. If you are unsure about how to respond to an error or warning message that you receive after submitting a grant, please contact your grants management office or email the R2 office.

Model Grants Library

The following model funded grant proposals are available to Mailman School faculty and doctoral students, upon request. To request one of these sample funded grant proposals, email the Research Resources Office.

Funded NIH Proposals

F31: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (NIDA, PI: Justin Knox, "Substance Use And Sexual Risk Behavior Among MSM in South African Townships").

F31: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (NIMH, PI: Stephanie Hazel Cook, "HIV Risk in Urban Populations of Black Men who have Sex with Men and Women").

K01: NIH Mentored Career Development Award (NICHD, PI: Dr. Gina Schellenbaum Lovasi, "Linking Dynamic Environments with Childhood Obesity").

K99/R00: NIH Pathway to Independence Award (NIDCR, Funded 2012, PI: Dr. Ryan Demmer, "Periodontal Infections and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk").

R01: NIH Research Project Grant (NICHD, PI: Dr. John Santelli, "Prevention and Planning Linkages").

R01: NIH Research Project Grant (NINDS, PI: Dr. Ruth Ottman, "Psychosocial Impact of Genetics in Epilepsy").

R03: NIH Small Grant Program (NCI, PI: Dr. Regina Santella, "MicroRNA in Blood as an Early Biomarker of Breast Cancer").

Funded Non-NIH Proposals

U.S. Dept. of Education, Institute for Education Science (IES):Institute for Education Science Development and Innovation Grant, "Getting Ready for School: An Integrated Curriculum to help Parents and Teachers Support Preschool Children's Early Literacy, Math, and Self-Regulation Skills."

HUD: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Healthy Homes Technical Program (Funded 2010, PI: Dr. Robyn Gershon, "Healthy Homes, Healthy Seniors").

NSF: U.S. National Science Foundation, Directorate for Engineering, Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI), Infrastructure Management and Extreme Events (IMEE) Program (Funded 2007, PI: Dr. Robyn Gershon, "Collaborative Research: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavioral Intentions of Essential Personnel with Respect to Avian Influenza and SARS").

RWJF: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award (Funded 2010, PI: Dr. Miriam Laugesen, "Analyzing the Role of Physicians in Determining Health Care Payment Policies").

If you are a Mailman School researcher who would like to contribute a funded proposal to this Model Grants Library, please contact The Research Resources Office.