Great Plains IDeA | Clinical and Translational Research
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Research Studios

The Great Plains IDeA-CTR offers Research Studios to provide early career investigators with help from a multidisciplinary team of scientists to help refine research.

Options for Research Studios are:

  1. Review an aims page with brief proposed methods and research team members.
  2. Grant review before submission (simulated mock NIH review).
  3. Brainstorming session for recently completed projects or individuals attempting to transition to external funding but who have questions.

Our network adapted and enhanced a research studio program that was developed by Vanderbilt University and has been implemented at various institutions across the country. The goals of our Research Studios are to enhance research quality, improve funding success, foster networking, and facilitate development of multidisciplinary teams.

Questions? Read our FAQ.

Request a Research Studio

“I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in a GP-IDeA CTR Research Studio prior to submitting my first R01 in June 2021. I received thoughtful feedback from world-renowned researchers and clinicians. Each panel member was committed to seeing my application be successful.”

Windy Alonso, PhD, RN

Assistant Professor, UNMC College of Nursing

Goals

The goal of the Research Studios is to support the professional development of faculty who are assistant or associate professors. The studios are, however, available to all faculty including professors. With suggestions from the trainee, relevant experts are identified to provide feedback on strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities of the trainee’s research. Such consultation not only will advance the research and scholarship agendas of these faculty, but also will help expand their professional networks. The studios provide a chance to bring a more senior scholar or scholars from local and outside universities to participate in this opportunity. A key objective of the studio is to offer this support at a critical time in the faculty member’s career.

Eligibility

Faculty from our network's participating institutions, including professors, assistant professors, associate professors, and instructors. Other applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“The research studio process helped me to revise my response to reviewers on an NIH UH3 BRAIN Initiative grant, which was subsequently awarded, and became the first BRAIN initiative funding on campus.”

Aviva Abosch, MD, PhD

Chair and Professor, UNMC Department of Neurosurgery

Next Steps

Process

  1. Submit a research studio request at least six to eight weeks before submission deadlines.
  2. The studio coordinator will be in touch to discuss dates and times.
  3. The Professional Development leadership will review the request and suggest additional experts, for a total of four to six.
  4. A time will be found, working with the calendars of the experts who will participate. The  planning process can take up to a month. The coordinator will reserve a meeting location, and Zoom will be available.
  5. During the session, the investigator will present for approximately 10-15 minutes. A PowerPoint may be used but is not required. Open discussion with the experts will follow. Verbal and written feedback will be sent to the investigator after the studio, along with a session recording.
  6. The investigator will be sent a link to evaluate the effectiveness of the session and will be asked to provide progress reports after six months and at the one-year mark.

Options

  1. Aims page review and refinement. Submit an aims page with brief proposed methods. This may be one to two pages if drafted and you would like feedback.  Identify team members or request help identifying team members.
  2. Mock review of full research proposal. Submit an aims page plus research strategy (such as six pages for R21; 12 pages for R01) with your application guidelines, addressing significance, innovation and approach; design, sample, variables/measures, procedure, and data analysis sections for review. Submit a minimum of four weeks (six to eight weeks preferred) prior to grant submission deadline. Please include summary sheets with proposals for discussion as well as any revisions made, if applicable. No appendices please.
  1. Brainstorming Session. For recently completed projects or individuals who are attempting to transition to external funding but have questions. Investigators with completed projects must submit a descriptive narrative, the results from your project, and what potential roadblocks you may have in your next application.

“The research studio was a great opportunity to present an upcoming grant submission to a multidisciplinary group and receive constructive feedback. With the feedback from the research studio, I was able to revise the grant before submission and it was subsequently selected for funding.”

Bryant England, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, UNMC Division of Rheumatology