Scientific Premise in NIH Grant Applications

The NIH recently implemented updates to research grant and career development award applications aimed at enhancing reproducibility through rigor and transparency with a focus on four areas: scientific premise, rigorous experimental design, consideration of relevant biological variables, and authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources. This post is the first in a series addressing each of these four areas, starting with scientific premise.
To better understand what scientific premise is, and why it warrants specific attention in grant review, let’s consider the type of data often used by applicants in support of proposed research. Applications often include data aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed experimental approach. While this type of data can be important as proof of concept, it does not speak to the project’s scientific premise – the strengths and weakness of the data and previously performed work upon which the proposal is built upon.
A hypothetical example might help clarify this point. Let’s say an application proposes to investigate whether and how enzyme A regulates a particular cell function. Preliminary data suggest that enzyme A modifies protein B, and there are data in the literature showing that protein B regulates the particular cell function in question. The strength of the proposed project is dependent on the strength of the data suggesting that protein B regulates the particular cell function. Thus, the new applica...

Source: NIH Extramural Nexus - January 28, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Mike Lauer Tags: blog Open Mike applications premise reproducibility Resources rigor Source Type: funding