Funding

Do I need money to do research?

Yes. To do research properly, you need to have funding to handle the regulatory requirements, conduct the study properly, analyze the data, and communicate the results to the larger community (either clinical or research). Experts at CHR can help you identify all the “hidden” costs of conducting high-quality research. CHR is mostly funded through federal grants and external funding; KPNW supports only about 10% of CHR’s budget.

How do I get funded?

A wide range of funding opportunities exist depending on the type of study. We can help you determine what kind of study you have. Types of funding include private industry, federal sources, foundations, and internal Kaiser Permanente sources (at both the national and regional level). To apply for funding, you need a well-developed research idea that is suited to the potential funder. 

How do I apply for federal grant money?

A wide range of federal funds are available depending on your area of research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) use activity codes to indicate different research-related programs (e.g., R01 for a Research Project, R21 for Exploratory/Developmental Research, or R34 for Clinical Trial Planning): http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/funding_program.htm

To apply for different types of grants, you must use the appropriate forms and instructions: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm

Here are some more resources for learning about funding opportunities: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp http://www.niaid.nih.gov/ncn/grants/new/default.htm
http://www.ohsu.edu/research/crp/fundingopps.shtml
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/internet_guide.htm

How does federal funding differ from industry funding?

Industry funding is appropriate for:

  • Testing devices, drugs, equipment, pharmacology, or other items that require testing before use
  • Anything requiring FDA or regulatory approval
  • Industry-initiated work

Federal funding, from agencies such as the National Cancer Institute or the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is appropriate for:

  • Research questions that can generalize to the public (i.e., public domain research)
  • Knowledge that can generally apply to health care (For example, the Women’s Health Initiative led to changes in the way clinicians prescribed hormone replacement therapy at a national level.)

When do I need to get help with writing a proposal?

More complicated study ideas will require resources to write a grant application to fund your research. In these cases, a CHR mentor can move your proposal forward and help you get the CHR resources you need to create a strong grant application. For example, these resources could include advice from experts in recruitment, protecting research participants, working with laboratory data, or managing the study.

How do I find a mentor to help with my research project?

Mentors can be identified by contacting CHR's Research Response Team, who will work to find an appropriate mentor from CHR. In general, physician-initiated proposals submitted through the CHR require sponsorship by either a CHR investigator or other research support staff. Northwest Permanente (NWP), Permanente Dental Associates (PDA) or KPNW employees with a research track record may be exceptions to this. To determine whether a sponsor is necessary, contact either David Mosen (david.m.mosen@kpchr.org) or Dan Laferriere (dan.laferriere@kpchr.org). Your mentor will play a crucial role both in providing technical and scientific expertise in developing your proposal and in presenting it for internal reviews and approvals, including review and approval for research subjects' protection. (protecting our members)