Get that Grant! A comprehensive guide for biomedical researchers

Authors: Dr. Lakshmi Iyer and Dr. Nishi Viswanathan

“Grant writing is certainly not rocket science”, says Dr. Nishi. But for newcomers, it can be a daunting task. This comprehensive guide to scientific grant writing covers every aspect of the process. It not only tells biomedical researchers what their grant application should be, it also explains what it should not be.

This book is chockfull of tips for both beginners as well as seasoned grant writers. The chatty and engaging style makes the book tough to put down….err…..close (being an ebook and all).

The chapters include:

- Watch out for the idea shooters (How to/not to shape your grant idea)
- Get the big picture clear (Making sure everything is in place)
- Getting started…..NIH style (All the actual fields step-by-step)
- Submitting grant proposals to NGOs and other tips
- Money matters (Budget basics and tips)
- The R word (How to handle rejection if it happens to you)

This book is part of an ebook series from Chillibreeze.com, a global content development company with an active medical writing division.


Some excerpts:

“Even if you don't carefully subject your ideas to some constructive criticism, the grant reviewers certainly will! If you are madly in love with your idea, you need to watch out too! You could be so close, that you just may not be able to see its limitations.”

“Yes, you have the right mix of expertise and brains, but is this what you want to do for the next 3 years? Are you excited by the idea?”

“ NIH spending for research on antimicrobial resistance has shot up from 181 Million $ in 2003 to a budget of 211 Million $ for 2006. Similarly, funds for asthma research have been increased from 248 M $ in 2003 to 290 M $ for 2006.”

“Just like in an advertisement, you have just 30 seconds to capture your reviewer's attention.”

“Your abstract is like showing the review committee members a wall size picture on your tiny cell phone screen with all the color, vividness and richness of detail intact.”


About the Author:

Lakshmi's career as a medical writer began in 1996. She has independently handled international medical writing projects in cardiology, dermatology, diabetology, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, infectious diseases, pediatrics, orthopedics, anesthesiology, neurology, neuropsychiatry, psychiatry, oncology, dentistry and veterinary medicine. Lakshmi lives in Bangalore, India.

Nishi works at Chillibreeze.com as Chief Content Co-ordinator. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine from the University of Mumbai, India and a Masters in Nutritional sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. Nishi likes to call herself a doctor by training but a writer by birth. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband Girish and her delightful daughter, Malavika. Travel fascinates her and one of her dreams is to go backpacking all over the world.

About the ebook, Dr. Lakshmi says, " We will know that we have succeeded in our attempt to simplify grant writing when clinician scientists and bio-medical researchers write in to tell us how useful this book has been to them".