Concocting that Magic Elixir: Successful Grant Application Writing in Dissemination and Implementation Research

Area of Science:

• Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Science
• Grant Writing Strategies
• Research Funding

Background:

• Identifies critical competencies for effective grant application writing in Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) research.
• Addresses the need for structured guidance in D&I grant proposal development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define core competencies essential for successful D&I grant application writing.
• To provide actionable tips for researchers seeking D&I funding.

Main Methods:

• Employed a two-phase approach: card sorting with 123 D&I researchers and expert review.
• Leveraged 170 years of combined grant review experience to formulate writing tips.

Main Results:

• Identified 12 core competencies for D&I grant applications, aligning with NIH proposal structure.
• Competencies cover specific aims, significance, innovation, and approach, emphasizing D&I models and context.

Conclusions:

• Successful D&I grant writing is a learnable skill.
• Attention to the identified core competencies enhances proposal quality and success rates.