Monthly Grant Tip: Contacting Your Program Officer

Last time we described the benefits of establishing a relationship with your NIH Program Officer (PO). The best way to identify your PO is through the “Scientific Contacts” section of the FOA to which you’re responding. However, if you’re at an earlier stage in the development of your grant application (ie, no specific FOA as yet), use the NIH RePORTER “Matchmaker” function to identify POs with an interest in work similar to yours Remember the first PO you contact may not be the best fit, but he/she might be able to recommend another.

Once you have identified a suitable PO:

• Talk to your PO early in the process sometimes even when you just have an idea for a project. Remember POs are often former researchers – they care about their subject matter and they know where you’re “coming from”
• Don’t be shy – it’s the POs job to work with you…..but......
• POs are busy people – be considerate of their time
• Start with an email – repeat as necessary. Attach a draft of an Aims Page or Abstract – it’s your “calling card” which will bring the PO up to speed with the work you’re proposing
• Set up a phone call if necessary
• Plan the conversation – write out the questions/topics you want to discuss
• Cultivate the relationship – it could last a long time
• Don’t be an anonymous applicant - introduce yourself at meetings and put a face to the name

Some investigators work with the same PO for decades. NIH received ~90,000 grant applications every year. Having a contact at NIH who knows you and your work can be a real benefit.

For assistance in all aspects of your grant writing endeavors, please contact NC TraCS Proposal Development.