I've had a few people now ask me for advice on how to get the @NIH_LRP award. I am going to write a thread, but one *major* thing to keep in mind is that unfortunately, you do not get any feedback or a score on your application. So, it is hard to know how it is reviewed 1/x

So, my advice is based on some general grant/training grant principles but also some things that I think *seemed* compelling in my application. However, I have no idea what reviewers liked or didn't like in my application. Hopefully this advice is still valid! 2/x

But here goes. First, make sure your research fits squarely into one of the categories AND into one of the NIH institutes. The categories are: Clinical Research, Pediatric Research, Health Disparities Research, Contraception and Infertility Research, and 3/x

Clinical Rsrch for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds. When I've heard of people not getting it, it's often because it was a stretch for their research to fit in a categories or at an NIH institute. Talk to a PO! You'll also get a sense of the Institute's priorities 4/x

2nd, strongly make the case that your FIRST priority is to be an independent researcher, one who will get a lot more NIH funding. This award is supposed to keep people in research who might otherwise seek out more lucrative (clinical/industry) careers to pay back debt. 5/x

Thus, you should make the case (and it should be evident in your biosketch with pubs and grants) that research is your main jam. If I were a reviewer and I thought you might ditch research soon after your postdoc, I'd rate you poorly. Coming off that point, I assume that 6/x

Although you only need to be 50% research to be eligible, it is probably stronger to argue that your position is mostly (if not fully) research-focused and that you have the time and support to conduct your own research, publish papers, and write grants as PI (at least a K!) 7/x

Along those lines, sell your line of research as high impact, fundable, and name *specific* NIH grants (mechanisms and project) that how what you are doing now will set you up for those awards. 8/x

If you're a mentored researcher, you need to make the case that your mentor (who ideally is NIH funded. If not, find one and propose them to be part of your team) can support your quest to be an independent researcher. That means they have $ and have a track record of mentees 9/x

In my research plan, I described: a project in detail I would conduct, approximately 7 specific manuscripts (from data from completed NIH trials) I would write, roles I would play on ongoing projects in my lab, and 2 PI grants (one NIH) and 2 grants I would co-write as Co-I 10/x

In my training plan (as a mentored rsrchr), I described: my mentors (primary and secondary) and their track record of mentorship and what I would do with them, what didactics/eduction I would get, conferences I would attend, grant writing training, & training in lab mngmnt 11/x

These activities were proposed to help propel me to being an independent investigator (with a tenure track job) at the end of the two years. Reviewers need to see clearly that your goal is to be an independent researcher 12/x

So, that's my advice for @NIH_LRP. Happy to answer any specific questions people have. Again, because of the lack of feedback/score, it's hard to know what reviewers cared most about. These thoughts are based on looking back on my app and what seemed convincing to me. 13/x