Grant Proposal Guidance

Grant Proposal Guidelines

Our department has established guidelines to ensure a smooth grant proposal submission and ensure the appropriate amount of statistical support is provided.

Funding Minimum

The minimum funding level for a faculty member to participate in a funded proposal is 5% annually unless approved by the department chair. 

Funding Recommendations

The amount of funding allocated to a biostatistician on a grant can vary depending on several factors, including the scope and complexity of the research project, the specific roles and responsibilities of the biostatistician or the bioinformatician, and the funding mechanism. Here are some general guidelines for determining the appropriate funding for a biostatistician and/or bioinformatician on a grant based on common grant mechanisms:

Large Scale Research Grants (R01 or equivalent)

• Research projects with extensive data collection, monitoring, and potentially complex analyses.
• Recommend 10-30% effort of a faculty member, depending on the complexity of the project.

Small Research Grants (R03, R21 or equivalent)

• Even for smaller-scale projects, it's important to budget for biostatistics/bioinformatics support to ensure the validity and reliability of the study findings.
• Recommend 5-15% effort of a faculty member, depending on the complexity of the project.

Center Grants (P30, P50, or equivalent)

• Multidisciplinary research programs that involve collaborations between investigators with diverse expertise.
• Recommend to include a biostatistical and/or bioinformatic core supporting multiple faculty for a total effort of at least 40%.

Other Budgetary Considerations

• In some cases, the biostatistical and/or bioinformatic support provided by our faculty can be supplemented with funding for an M.S. biostatistician or a graduate research assistant, and faculty-funded efforts can be adjusted accordingly
• In general, our faculty help to develop proposals without compensation, including such aspects as calculation of sample sizes, analysis of preliminary data, and writing of statistical sections of grants, since it is assumed that the major biostatistical effort on the project will be via allocated funded effort post-award.
• If funding for biostatistician/bioinformatician efforts are to be reduced due to budget cuts, then the work of the biostatistician must also be reduced. Thus, any changes should be made jointly in consultation between the PI and the biostatisticians.
• There are some grant mechanisms that do not support funded effort by faculty; this may include some K-awards. In this case, the PI should discuss the proposal with the faculty member.

Including Our Personnel on a RAMS-SPOT Proposal

Sub-accounts are required for ALL proposals which include faculty, students, or staff from the Department of Biostatistics.

Funding Proposal

• Proposal Title and Contacts section, question 6: Units with View Access - Please make sure “Biostatistics” is checked.
• Personnel section: Add the relevant Biostatistics personnel that you wish to include on the proposal.

Primary Budget

• Budget Characteristics section, question 3: Will this budget have Cost Sharing (including salary cap)? Choose YES if you are including a Biostatistics member who will need cost-sharing. See Cost Share Budget section on next page.
• Budget Characteristics section, question 9: If this project is awarded, will there be internal subaccounts? Choose YES. Selecting “yes” will create the subaccounts section which you will populate later in the Primary Budget.
• Subaccounts section, Internal Subaccounts: click the ADD button. This will bring up a box that asks for the following information:
  • Unit: select Biostatistics as the “Unit”.
  • Direct Costs: Populate the amount of direct costs including salary, fringe, and any non-personnel costs for the sub-account. If you need budget information, please contact Cindy Sabo, Kati Scharles, or Jefferson Mendoza.
  • Indirect Costs: Populate the indirect costs related to the direct costs based on the current approved rate for the specified Sponsor.
  • Comments: Add any relevant comments.

Routing for Approval

• Route for Approval section, question 2: Select which units should approve this proposal - The PI should check the School of Public Health box so the proposal is routed to the School of Public Health.

Cost Share Budget

If you answered “Yes” to Question 3 in the Primary Budget, Budget Characteristics section for a Biostatistics member, a new budget form will appear in the “Working Budgets” section of the Funding Proposal.

• Personnel Costs – Cost Sharing section, Salary over Cap CS Dept; Choose Biostatistics. This section is where you get the calculations for the cost sharing details section below so make a note of these totals.
• Cost Sharing Details section, question 1: Enter Department/Unit Cost Sharing Allocation; Click ADD.
  • Department: select Biostatistics
  • Total Dollars: Populate the amount you noted from personnel costs above.
• Attachments for Internal Purposes section, click ADD to include the cost-share authorization form signed by Biostatistics.