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R21 Figure 4

I've not had as much blogging time as I'd like because I'm writing a grant that is due a week from Thursday. I was thinking today that I could probably get a nice quid pro quo from my audience. I've attached the current appearance of Figure 4, which is the key bit of preliminary data that will hopefully fund a grant. I'd like to ask everyone's assistance in helping me write the figure legend. (I hate writing figure legends!) Look at the figure above, and try to summarize what it's saying in one sentence (or more, if you're particularly bored). I'll pin them all together and paste them into the grant before I send it off.

Thanks for helping me out!

Comments

  1. Rachel7:05 AM

    Please keep in mind that I can't make heads or tails of this ...

    How about:

    "This lovely diagram proves my point completely. Please approve grant moneys right away. Quick, like a bunny!"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carol11:22 AM

    Since quid pro quo means to get something for something or to get this for that, I'm assuming that this diagram actually MEANS something. However, in this case, since I haven't the slightest clue as to what the hell this is, I have to go with the fact that it means nothing without grant money to investigate it further. That being said, I can't figure out if actually knowing what it's saying would get me something, or just you, J.Michael. Gee, I hope this helps!!! LOLOLOL

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous5:21 PM

    The age at which scientists receive their first grant from the NIH has been increasing in recent decades. The number and percentage of grants awarded to younger researchers has been decreasing. While investigators under the age of 40 received over half of the competitive research awards in 1980, that age cohort received fewer than 17% of awards in 2003. As of 2002, the median age at which PhD researchers receive their first research grant was 42. Moreover, the percentage and absolute number of awards made to new investigators—regardless of age—has declined over the last several years, with new investigators receiving less
    than 4% of NIH research awards made in 2002.

    Academic biomedical researchers are therefore spending long periods of time at the beginning of their careers unable to set their own research directions or establish their independence. This has led to a fear that promising prospective scientists will choose not to pursue a career in academic biomedical research and, instead, opt for career paths that provide a greater chance for independence. This “crisis of expectation” has severe and troubling implications for the future of biomedical research in the US. I am under 40, and as you can see from Figure 4, I am a trained biologist. So, if you give me a lot of money, that will help solve the crisis that biomedical research faces.

    ReplyDelete
  4. J. Michael Andresen2:06 PM

    This is perfect! I loved "Quick, like a bunny" from Rachel. That would be nice. Carol's logical taunt of "give me money to figure out what the figure means" is also compelling. Grant's text might be a little long for a figure legend, but I so wish I could put all those alarming statistics in the cover letter. The NIH actually does realize those alarming discrepancies, and has "new investigator status" for those applying for their first grant to get a break of a few percentage points on the funding level. Sadly, this grant is a collaborative effort with someone who does not have "new" status, which means the grant doesn't get it either. Sad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous2:30 PM

    Figure 4. QED. See above address for where to send taxed AIG bonus monies...

    ReplyDelete

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